Worker departures reach all-time high

KATHMANDU, JUL 23 - Departures of Nepali migrant workers reached an all-time high of 354,716 in fiscal 2010-11. The figure represents a growth of 20.61 percent from 294,094 in 2009-10.

The surge in the number of outbound workers has been attributed to swelling demand from major labour destinations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. 

Among those going for foreign jobs were 10,416 women. The departees last year included 38,000 workers returning to their jobs after taking a break in their homes.

Director of the Department of Foreign Employment Lal Babu Kawari said that unemployment in the country and higher salaries abroad had led to increasing numbers of Nepal youths leaving for foreign employment.

In a bid to stop the illegal practice of leaving for work abroad by showing old employment contracts, the department on May 23 had introduced a provision under which returning workers were required to obtain a new permit. However, the department has suspended the rule for now following pressure from Nepali embassies and outbound workers.

In the last fiscal year, hiring of Nepali workers by Qatar soared 79.57 percent to 102,966 individuals. It had taken in 57,430 workers during the fiscal year 2009-10. With the increment in the hiring trend, Qatar has become the second largest labour market after Malaysia for Nepalis workers.

Foreign employment agencies said that demand for workers from Qatar had been increasing massively with the country targeting infrastructure development with a focus on the FIFA World Cup 2022 scheduled to be held there. “Free visa, free ticket and a good salary compared to other countries have been attracting more Nepali workers to Qatar,” said Kumud Khanal, general secretary of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies.

Meanwhile, demand for workers in other major destinations—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait—has also increased. Saudi Arabia took in 71,116 individuals, up from 63,700 during the fiscal year 2009-10. The UAE and Kuwait absorbed 44,464 and 15,187 workers respectively. 

According to the department’s data, even though Malaysia continued to remain in the first position in terms of absorbing Nepali workers, hiring by this country has gone down from 113,982 individuals during 2009-10 to 105,906 workers in the last fiscal year. 

Foreign employment agencies said hiring by Malaysia declined slightly in the last fiscal year because of reasons like passport shortage and negative impact of the protest by Nepali workers against JCY SDB BHD, a multinational company, in August last year.