More than 1,300 Nepalis are departing daily for employment abroad. As per the Department of Foreign Employment, 40,461 persons have left the country for work in foreign labour markets during the 11th month of the current fiscal year (mid-May to mid-June).

Outbound during the review period is the highest monthly departure recorded so far by the government. Earlier, during the final month of the last fiscal year (mid-June to mid-July), 32,869 workers left the country following increased demand as a result of improved economic condition in major labour destinations.

Foreign employment expert and former member of the National Planning Commission Ganesh Gurung said, “Hiring of Nepali workers, particularly unskilled labour, is increasing as Nepali labourers are cheaper and more honest compared to workers from other countries.”

Nepali labour agencies said that hiring by Qatar had been increasing significantly with infrastructure development programmes for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Out of the total worker departures during the 11th month, Qatar absorbed 13,719 persons while Malaysia, the largest labour market for Nepali workers, accounted for 8,748 persons. Similarly, Saudi Arabia took in 8,296 workers, the United Arab Emirates 5,467 and Kuwait 2,098.

Labour agencies said that they had been receiving huge demand for workers from Qatar, Kuwait and Malaysia. However, they have not been able to supply a sufficient number of workers because of limited issuance of passports by the government.

Passports are issued only from the capital resulting in massive congestion at the Foreign Ministry.

“We have witnessed enormous demand for workers from Qatar, Kuwait and Malaysia, and departures to South Korea for work under the Employment Permit System too has been increasing,” said Som Lal Bataju, president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies.

As of the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, 310,001 Nepalis have left the country to work abroad, up 18.67 percent from the 261,218 recorded in the same period last year.

However, the association termed the growth “just a fluctuation” as they had not been able to send workers as anticipated because of the shortage of passports for potential migrant workers.

Migrant Workers' Departure

Month                                 No. of workers

Mid-Jul. to mid-Aug.            29,685

Mid-Aug. to mid-Sept.         25,375

Mid-Sept. to mid-Oct.          23,548

Mid-Oct to mid-Nov.            23,809

Mid-Nov. to mid-Dec.          24,614

Mid-Dec. to mid-Jan.           30,485

Mid-Jan. to mid-Feb.            28,136

Mid-Feb. to mid-Mar.            25,011

Mid-Mar.  to mid-Apr.           29,606

Mid-Apr. to mid-May            29,271

Mid-May to mid-Jun.            40,461

Published on: 20 June 2011 | The Kathmandu Post