The latest labour permit figures present an unsettling picture for the nation. Between mid-August and mid-September, 60,042 people were granted work permits for employment abroad. Of these, 34,167, or roughly 57 percent, were classified as skilled workers. These are individuals whose skills Nepal needs at home, yet foreign employers may offer them a more accessible path to earning a livelihood. The Gulf nations continue to be the primary destination for Nepali workers across all skill levels. For instance, 18,477 permits were issued for the UAE. Qatar ranked second, with 10,471 permits issued. The total number of permits issued for the Gulf region reached 40,728, accounting for about 68 percent of the monthly total. It has also been found that large numbers of people are still planning to leave, even though the ongoing crisis between the US and Iran has disrupted travel and business activities, raising concerns about their safety. Many workers weigh their debts, potential earnings, and the lack of opportunities at home before deciding to migrate to these destinations. This reality reflects both Nepal's economic challenges and the enduring appeal of the Gulf. Prime Minister Balendra Shah's administration and the Rastriya Swatantra Party have pledged to reduce the pressure on young people to seek opportunities abroad. The permit data show how far that promise remains from everyday reality. Nonetheless, the government should study these figures carefully. Although skilled workers accounted for a significant share of labour permits last month, the total number of permits declined from 70,441 in the previous month. A long-term trend cannot be established from a single month's data. What the figures do show, however, is that foreign employment remains an option on a massive scale: 130,483 permits were issued during the first two months of the current fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the skilled category deserves particular attention. Training requires investment, whether it is funded by families, workers, or the government. When an electrician, mason, mechanic, or nursing technician leaves the country, Nepal loses valuable human capital. At the same time, it is also true that being skilled does not always guarantee higher wages or secure employment abroad. The government should publish labour permit data alongside details on occupations, wages, recruitment costs, and contract conditions. It needs to understand both what workers gain and what Nepal fails to provide. In the short term, authorities can support those who wish to stay by connecting them with available opportunities. Local employment centres should advertise verified vacancies and link employers with skilled workers. Public construction projects should ensure timely payments and provide meaningful apprenticeship opportunities. Small businesses need reliable electricity, faster payments, and easier access to credit in order to hire more workers. These measures will not replace the income opportunities available in the Gulf for everyone, but they could enable more people to remain in Nepal.
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At the same time, Nepal must do more to ensure safe conditions for those who continue to leave. Recruitment costs should be made transparent, contracts should be reviewed before departure, and embassies should be prepared to respond when wages go unpaid or workers face threats and abuse.
It is equally true that restricting migration without creating jobs at home would leave people with fewer opportunities and no additional source of income. The long-term goal should be to build industries that can utilise Nepal's growing pool of skills. Agriculture requires better storage and processing facilities; tourism needs year-round services; and construction and industry require stable policies that encourage investment. Training programmes must be aligned with actual labour market needs, and this can be achieved with the involvement of businesses that help design courses and provide placements afterwards. Returning migrants should be able to make full use of their capital and experience by starting businesses without becoming entangled in unnecessary bureaucracy. Completely stopping youth migration is neither realistic nor a fair measure of success. People should retain the freedom to work abroad. The responsibility of the state is to ensure that migration becomes a choice rather than a necessity. Promises to retain Nepal's talent at home will continue to ring hollow unless young workers can earn a stable and dignified livelihood in their own country.
