Despite political turmoil in Gulf countries and the government ban on Bahrain and Oman, Nepal’s overseas job market grew 15.52 per cent in Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April).

According to Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), 29,606 Nepalis joined overseas jobs in more than two dozen foreign countries during the period. Overseas job markets had offered employment to around 25,011 Nepalis the previous month.

Chaitra recorded a significant growth in individual overseas contracts with 9,720 job contracts.

Earlier, the number used to be below 8,000. Among preferred destinations, Qatar hired over two-third at 6,311 in in individual category, followed by the United Arab Emirates (1,952), Kuwait (757) and Saudi Arabia (524). However, Malaysia hired only 13 Nepalis under the category.

Qatar tops the list for three consecutive months.

The destination hired 9,246 Nepalis between mid-March and mid-April, followed by Malaysia (7,440), Saudi Arabia (6,115), UAE (3,835) and Kuwait (1,810).

There is no hiring from Bahrain and Oman due to political unrest in the countries and the government decision to temporary halt issuing permits for those countries.

Though the government has lifted the ban this month.

Bahrain and Oman hired 2,902 and 1,568 Nepali workers in first eight months of the current fiscal year. About 70,000 Nepalis are believed to be working in the destinations.

Women preferred destinations, Lebanon and Israel, hired seven and 10 Nepalis in Chaitra in individual contracts. Israel had banned Nepali workers following a dispute on service fee charged by Nepali outsourcing agencies in 2009 while Nepal government banned Lebanon in early 2010 as 15 Nepali women commit suicide in the destination in 2009.

South Korea hired 817 Nepalis under Employment Permit System (EPS) last month but Japan hired only 11. Japan is hiring Nepali workers under Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO).

Afghanistan, another Asian country, hired 116 Nepalis in security jobs.

Macau hired 45 as private security personnel. From Eurozone, United Kingdom hired six Nepalis.

Top destinations

• Qatar 9,246

• Malaysia 7,440

• Saudi Arabia 6,115

• UAE 3,835

• Kuwait 1,810

Published on: 1 May 2011 | The Himalayan Times