KATHMANDU, Aug 24: In Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), the first month of the current Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (FY), about 60,000 Nepalis left the country for foreign employment.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), 59,550 Nepali people obtained labor permits for foreign employment in the first month of the current Fiscal Year 2024/2025. This is slightly more than in the previous FY 2023/2024. In Shrawan of the previous FY, 55,575 workers had gone abroad for work.

In Shrawan, 25,500 people obtained institutional work permits and 10,753 received individual work permits, according to the DoFE. Additionally, 668 people went through Government-to-Government (G-to-G) channel.

According to DoFE data, 51,430 men and 8,114 women went for foreign employment in July. This number includes both new and re-approved laborers.

The number of Nepalis going to Malaysia for foreign employment has decreased. In Shrawan, 1,344 people went to Malaysia, marking the biggest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. In Shrawan of the previous FY 2023/2024 alone, 9,238 workers had gone to Malaysia in search of employment. This decline occurred after Malaysia reduced the intake of migrant workers last March.

According to the DoFE, most of the Nepalis went to the UAE in Shrawan, with 17,541 people traveling there. Saudi Arabia ranked second with 11,809, followed by Qatar with 11,785.

Similarly, 4,695 people went to Kuwait for employment, while 1,472 went to Japan and 812 went to South Korea. This number includes both new work permits and re-approved labor permits.

The number of Nepalis going to European countries in the month of Shrawan is also significant. According to the DoFE, most Nepalis went to Romania for employment. 

In July, 2,298 people went to work in Romania. The DoFE also reported that 1,138 people went to Croatia, 700 to Cyprus, 239 to Malta, 156 to Portugal and 50 to Poland.

 
• FY_2024/25
 
• foreign_employment
 
• Department_of_Foreign_Employment
 
• labor_permits