More than half a million Nepalis left the country for foreign employment in the last fiscal year 2013-14, surpassing all past annual records. The Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) said a total of 527,814 individuals took permits from it for overseas job placements.

The number of workers who left for jobs is up by 16.37 per cent as compared to a departure of 453,543 individuals in the previous fiscal year 2012-13. Thanks to lack of employment opportunities in the country and growing demand for Nepali workers in international labour markets, this number has been in an ever increasing trend.

It is not only the number of males whose departure for employment is growing; these days the number of women leaving the country for foreign employment has also been rising. DoFE data show that the total number of Nepali workers absorbed by foreign labour markets last fiscal includes 29,368 women, which is up by 5.97 per cent as compared to 27,713 women who acquired DoFE permits the previous year. It is a must to get a labour permit from DoFE to leave the country for employment purposes.

Data maintained by DoFE does not include records of individuals who leave for foreign employment illegally via India or with support of middlemen. Slow economic activities in the country and comparatively better salary and perks are also attributed as major reasons behind the rise in departure of Nepali youths for foreign jobs. 



Raghu Raj Kafle, executive director of Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) said that a majority of Nepali youths leave for employment as an obligation. According to Kafle, from the current fiscal year, they will provide skill-based training to more potential outbound workers to help them find better paying jobs in the international market or get a job in the country. 

The government statistics show that 74 per cent Nepali workers employed in foreign labour markets are unskilled. Such workers normally choose to leave for low paying labour destinations and get themselves engaged in 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) jobs. Though the government has opened 109 countries for foreign employment, a majority of workers are leaving for countries like Malaysia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 

To explore potentials of jobs for Nepali aspirants in new destinations, FEPB this year is planning to hold at least one job fair. “The destination has not yet been decided and we are also studying on the type of workforce that the particular country needs so that we could 

train aspirants before sending them there,” said Kafle.

In terms of number of workers, Malaysia has continued to be the largest labour destination for Nepali job aspirants. Malaysia hired 214,149 Nepali workers, followed by Qatar (128,874). Other countries like Saudi Arabia offered jobs to 86,876 Nepali workers, while the UAE and Kuwait hired 54,965 and 19,353 individuals, respectively, in the last fiscal year. Similarly, 4,412 individuals left for South Korea, which includes 3,128 workers who left under Employment Permit System.

Published on: 31 July 2014 | The Himalayan Times