With more individuals leaving the country to work abroad, the departure of Nepali job aspirants this year has surpassed all the previous annual records.

The total number of people who acquired labour permit from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) in the 11 months of this fiscal stands at 466,097, a rise of 2.77 per cent when compared to the figures of last year. Going by the government rules, it is a must to obtain labour permit to leave the country for employment purpose in the international labour markets. Altogether 453,543 individuals had left the country last fiscal.

The DoFE data reveals that the number of women migrating for jobs is also increasing. According to the department, 27,018 females obtained labour permit in the review period, against issuance of 27,713 permits in the last fiscal year 2012-13. DoFE officials said that the workers’ departure trend indicates that the departure number is set to cross the half a million mark this year.

“More Nepali job aspirants are leaving for destinations like Malaysia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” said Badri Karki, spokesperson for DoFE. He added that their records also include permits issued to those individuals who had come home and were returning abroad for jobs.

The government data does not include the records of individuals who leave the country for foreign employment through illegal channels. DoFE officials agree that if the number of workers going abroad illegally with the help of middlemen and via India were to be considered, the size of Nepali workforce leaving the country would be much higher. It has been found that many Nepali women resort to illegal channels as the government here has imposed strict rules for women seeking employment abroad.

Each year, the number of worker leaving the county for jobs has been increasing. Sluggish economic growth, lack of employment opportunities, unfavourable environment for doing business and comparatively better salary and perks are attributed to rise in workers’ departure. 

Though the government has opened 108 countries for foreign employment, majority of workers are leaving only for countries like Malaysia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arab and Kuwait. In the review period, Malaysia absorbed the largest share with 183,423 workers, while Qatar was the second top job providers by hiring 116,265 Nepali workers. 

Saudi Arabia offered jobs to 76,940 individuals. Similarly, other top destinations such as the UAE and Kuwait absorbed 49,565 and 18,394 individuals. Foreign employment agencies said that workers demand has been growing in Qatar for infrastructure development and in Malaysia for various types of jobs.

Published on: 24 June 2014 | The Himalayan Times