Nepali workers joining overseas jobs crossed 40,000 in Jestha (mid-May to mid-June) breaking previous record of 31,636 migrants in a month in the same month last year.

“About 40,461 Nepalis leave the country for the foreign jobs to over two dozen destination countries in Jestha,” according to Department of Foreign Employment.

The large demands from Gulf countries – Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – increased Nepali migrat workers outflow to overseas jobs by 27.65 per cent in Jestha compared to a month ago. About 29,271 Nepalis had joined overseas jobs in Baisak (mid-April to mid-May), according to the department.

Qatar topped among the preferred destination list hiring 13,791 Nepalis in a month that is also the largest hiring in one month among 108 destination countries opened for Nepali migrant workers for job.

Malaysia took second place hiring 8,748 Nepali workers followed by Saudi Arabia (8,296), the United Arab Emirates (5,467) and Kuwait (2,098).

However, there is no change in top destination countries since last three months after Qatar toppled Malaysia from the first position. Qatar has been demanding thousands of Nepali workers to build infrastructures for FIFA World Cup that it is hosting in 2022.

The government authorities and outsourcing agencies are expecting continuous growth of demands of labour force from Qatar until the world cup starts.

“Demands from Qatar will grow as it can accommodate thousands of overseas job aspirants,” said general secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies in Nepal Kumud Khanal.

About 17,933 Nepalis joined overseas jobs through individual contracts while outsourcing agencies sent 22,528 workers to foreign job market specially to the Gulf countries and Malaysia.

About 1,615 Nepali women migrant workers joined overseas jobs between mid-May and mid-June but majority of them went through individual contracts.

Kuwait hired the highest number of Nepalis women migrant workers at 940 followed by the UAE (392), Oman (173), Malaysia (128) and Qatar (31).

Israel hired 21 women workers through individual contracts despite the ban to organisational migration in caregiving sector since April 2009. About 2,000 Nepali women are in caregivers job in Israel currently.

Likewise, Japan hired two Nepali women migrant workers through individual contract.

South Korea, which is hiring Nepalis under Employment Permit System (EPS), hired 920 Nepali migrant workers in Jestha but only three people managed to join Japanese job under Japan International Training Organisation Cooperation.

In Euro zone, Poland hired six Nepalis in agriculture sector.

Nepal votes for ILO 189
KATHMANDU: Nepal government voted in favour of draft of International Labour Organisation Convention 189: Decent Work for Domestic Workers in 100th ILO International Labour Conference on Thursday. The Convention 189 advocates for decent works for domestic workers around the world. The treaty provids all legitimate labour rights, which are not applicable in the field. It recognises labour rights of domestic helps, caregivers and other private workers. As the government has voted in favour of the convention, it will be rectified as earliest and implemented to safeguard thousands of domestic workers.

Published on: 20 June 2011 | The Himalayan Times