Rise in number of Nepalis leaving for foreign employment

KATHMANDU, March 16: Over 530,000 Nepali have left the country in search of employment during the first eight months (from mid-July to mid-March) of the current fiscal year 2024/25.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), 68,963 youth received labor permits in the month of Falgun alone. With this, the total number of youth who have left the country this year is 534,471.

This figure is over 63,000 higher compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year 2023/24, when 471,000 youth had received labor permits during the first eight months. This number includes both new and renewed labor permits.

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According to the data of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), in the current FY 2024/25, a total of 59,575 people obtained work permits in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), 57,493 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September), 53,525 in Asoj (mid-September to mid-October), 70,990 in Kartik (mid-October to mid-November), 84,226 in Mangsir (mid-November  to mid-December), 67,258 in Poush (mid-December to mid-January) and 72,441 in Magh (mid-January to mid-February).

This year, the UAE has been the main destination for Nepali migrant workers. According to the DoFE, a total of 25,017 people received labor permits for the UAE in the month of Fagun alone. With this, a total of 173,250 individuals have received labor permits for the UAE in the first eight months of this year.

Among the total number of youth leaving the country this year, 32.41 percent have migrated to the UAE. After the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Malaysia are also major destinations for Nepali workers.

However, there has been a significant decline in employment opportunities in Malaysia this year. While Malaysia was a major destination last year, it has now fallen to the fifth position. In the month of Fagun alone, only 3,715 youth received labor permits for Malaysia. In contrast, Japan saw 1,966 people while 1,883 people received labor permits for South Korea.