Kathmandu’s construction industry is largely built on the backs of migrants from rural Nepal and Indian immigrants, who start working from as early as 15 years old. Most move from border areas along Nepal's southern Tarai region and India, due to a lack of regular work and dignified pay in farming. Instead, they find work in construction--as it is a thriving business in ever-expanding Kathmandu--and undertake the considerable risk associated with it.

Even in winter's freezing temperatures, these construction workers live in makeshift tents of corrugated iron and ply, like nomads, moving from one construction site to another as each project finishes. The work is laborious and working hours long: workers work from as early as 7am to as late as 9pm. They often opt to work more hours, on the promise of overtime pay.

Most start working as helpers, cleaning and carrying construction material at the sites day in and day out, to earn Rs 600 per day. But, with a little experience, they can earn up to Rs 800 per day. Once a junior mistri, they can earn up to Rs 1,200 a day, doing some skilled labour, such as plastering, woodwork, or plumbing. A senior mistri can earn up to Rs 2,000 a day.