A total of 276,787 individuals obtained final work-approval from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) over the period, compared to 204,887 individuals a year ago, DoFE statistics show. 

 

The figures, however, include both first-timers as well as those going for foreign employment for the second time.

 

Of the total number of people acquiring final work-approval, 245,894 individuals got jobs though overseas employment agencies, while 30,893 secured jobs through personal contacts. “The 35 percent growth indicates the demand for Nepali workers is rising in major destination countries. We hope the demand will rise for quite some time,” said DoFE Director General Purna Chandra Bhattarai.

 

On monthly basis, the eighth month (mid-February to mid-March) of the fiscal year saw a 49.40 percent year-on-year rise in workers’ departure.

 

Malaysia continued to top the list of recruiters, hiring 101,509 Nepali individuals. Demand from Malaysia has been increasing as Nepalis have been given the top priority in security guard jobs and the country is not hiring other nationals in the sector, according to outsourcing agencies. Besides, the demand in construction, plantation, agriculture and forest sectors has also been healthy.

 

The number of Nepalis willing to go Malaysia increased due to the increment in minimum wage by the Nepali government. Also, the Malaysian government recently announced a 40 percent hike in basic salary. The provision, however, is yet to be implemented.

 

Other top hirers of Nepali workers over the eight months include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, absorbing 54,762, 48,928, 34,402 and 8,322 individuals, respectively. If the trend continues and everything goes as planned, stakeholders expect the departure numbers to exceed 600,000 this year.

 

Outsourcing agencies forecast the demand for Nepali workers in Qatar will rise further as the country is preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Qatar has already announced that it requires over 600,000 workers for construction work.

 

“Nepali workers will be one of the beneficiaries of the rise demand from Qatar. It would had been much better had the government ensured that the entire workers receive the proposed wage hike. The government should take diplomatic steps to bind companies to abide by the new wage for the betterment of workers,” said Bal Bahadur Tamang, chairman of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies.