Number of Nepalis going abroad for employment increases
KATHMANDU, Dec 31: With the conclusion of the major festivals in Nepal, the number of Nepalis seeking foreign employment has surged. In the first five months of the current fiscal year 2024/25, the highest number of Nepalis went abroad for foreign employment in the month of Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December). Over 84,000 individuals received labor permits for foreign employment during this period, nearly 14,000 more than in Kartik (mid-October to mid-November), according to the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE).
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the most preferred destination for Nepalis seeking foreign employment. According to the DoFE’s data, 84,226 people received labor permits in Mangsir, while 53,525 received permits in Ashoj (mid-September to mid-October). The DoFE also stated that 70,990 people received permits in Kartik, 59,575 in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), and 57,493 in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) to go abroad for work.
The DoFE's director and information officer, Guru Dutta Subedi, stated that Kartik and Mangsir have seen the highest number of labor permits issued for foreign employment in the current fiscal year. He mentioned that the number has increased compared to previous years due to many individuals who had returned from abroad now going back for foreign employment.
To work abroad, individuals must obtain a labor permit from the government authorities. Subedi explained that those who have returned after working abroad often opt to return to foreign employment because they find it is hard to get employment or settle in the country.
The DoFE's data shows that the UAE has consistently been the top labor destination country for Nepali migrant workers. Subedi told Republica that fewer Nepali workers are going to Malaysia for foreign employment but the number of people heading to the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia has increased since the last fiscal year, resulting in a rise in the number of labor permits issued.
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Subedi said, "Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath are the great festivals of Nepal, and many Nepali workers return home after celebrating these special festivals, which is why the number of workers is higher in Kartik and Mangsir."
In the 30-year history of foreign employment, the highest number of youths went abroad in the previous and last fiscal years. After comparing the numbers from the first five months of last year, he observed, the number of people going for foreign employment would increase in the current fiscal year.
Nepali workers' attraction to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for foreign employment has increased. In Mangsir this year alone, 24,769 people, including 2,882 women, received new and renewed labor permits for the UAE. In Kartik, 23,000 people received labor permits to go to the UAE. In Shrawan, 17,541 people, in Bhadra, 18,605 people, and in Ashoj, 17,724 people received labor permits.
Saudi Arabia has seen the second highest attraction, with 18,115 people, including 75 women, receiving labor permits. In Qatar, 14,844 people, including 1,001 women, received labor permits, according to the data.
However, the number of Nepali going to Malaysia as migrant labourers continues to decline. In Mangsir, 4,469 people received labor permits for Malaysia. In Kuwait, 6,690 people, in Japan, 2,371 people, and in South Korea, 1,225 people received labor permits, according to the data.
Subedi stated that as the number of people going for foreign employment increased, the UAE remained the top destination. He mentioned that most Nepali women choose to go to the UAE for foreign employment after receiving labor permits.
He stated that the data does not include the number of women and men going to the UAE without labor permits. “Women traveling on visit visas through agents prefer the UAE. Currently, both women and men choose the UAE,” he added.
"The UAE is an open country, and most of the youth from Nepal who go there seem satisfied. The number of tourists visiting the UAE is also increasing. Nepali workers can find jobs according to their preferences in the UAE, as the companies there offer jobs that meet the workers' desires." He also mentioned that many Nepali workers go to the UAE with the larger goal of entering Europe from there.
In Mangsir, Dhanusha recorded the highest number of labor permits for foreign employment, while Manang had the lowest. During this period, 4,373 youths from Dhanusha received labor permits, while only 15 youths from Manang received them, according to the DOFE.
Recently, Nepali workers have traveled to various countries, including Gulf countries and European nations. According to the department, 28,868 people received labor permits through manpower agencies in Mangsir, with 2,819 of them being women. Additionally, 13,059 people received new labor permits individually, 979 through G2G (Government-to-Government) arrangements, and 41,320 people received renewed labor permits, according to the DoFE's data.
Around 350,000 Nepalis have gone for foreign employment in the first five months of the current fiscal year. From Shrawan to Mangsir, 325,809 people received new and renewed labor permits.
Recently, the number of Nepalis going to Europe has also gone up. According to the DoFE's data, Nepali workers have received labor permits to go to European countries such as Croatia, Cyprus, France, Poland, and Romania. The DoFE informed as more Nepali youth are attracted to foreign employment, the government has introduced plans to make it safe, organized, regular, and dignified.
The DoFE's data shows that, among the 84,500 people who went abroad for foreign employment in Mangsir, 53,158 were skilled workers, 21,716 were unskilled, 8,780 were semi-skilled, 102 were highly skilled, and 470 were in professional occupations.
In the 30 years since the government began recording the number of people granted labor permits for foreign employment, 771,327 Nepalis have received permits to work abroad in the fiscal year 2022/23. According to the DoFE, 741,297 youths received labor permits for foreign employment in the fiscal year 2023/24. Similarly, in the fiscal year 2021/22, 630,090 youths received labor permits for foreign employment.
