Workers migration booms in last decade
Nepalis joining overseas jobs increased six times in last decade– from the fiscal year 2001-02 to 2010-11.
According to Department of Foreign Employment, about 55,045 had joined foreign jobs in first year of the decade while migrant workers number reached to 354,716 last year. Current year seems more promising as about 109,554 job aspirants has joined foreign jobs in first three months. However, quality of workers and job destinations has not changed. Above 70 per cent workers are unskilled involved in 3D (difficult, dirty and danger) works in Malaysia and Gulf countries– Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others.
More than two million documented Nepali workers in those destinations.
According to the department, four top destinations have hired 17.31 million workers in last two decades and equal number of undocumented migrants estimated in those destinations.
Since the fiscal year 1994-45, Malaysia has hired highest number 675,573 Nepalis followed by Saudi Arabia (412,441), Qatar (384,714) and UAE (258,979).
In recent years, hiring from those countries changed and Qatar has toppled Malaysia in top preferred destination list. For example, Qatar has hired 36,385 Nepalis in last three months of current fiscal year compare to Malaysia’s 23,503. Other preferred destinations Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait have hired 22,393, 16,616 and 5,138 respectively. Despite the boom, workers contribution to nation building is limited.
Large sum of remittance earned by migrant workers is used in debt financing, and bread and butter.
Published on: 27 October 2011 | The Himalayan Times
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