Unlike the previous years, Nepalis joining foreign jobs witnessed a boom in Asoj (mid-September to mid-October) despite major festival Dashain.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, workers migration jumped by 22.15 per cent in Asoj compared to a month ago’s 38,297. “About 49,198 workers joined foreign jobs between mid-September to mid-October including 9,062 reentrants and 2,131 legalised migrant workers.”

The department has legalised 2,131 Nepali migrant workers, who rejoined foreign jobs following the government process, said director general at the department Purnachandra Bhattarai. “They were not documented while they joined foreign jobs,” he said.

The department data revealed Malaysia as the first preferred destination that hired some 14,577 Nepali migrant workers followed by Saudi Arabia (8,139), Qatar (6,453), the UAE (4,846) and Kuwait (888).

However, reentrants prefered Qatar. The destination offered jobs to 3,148 Nepalis, whereas some 539 Nepalis rejoined jobs in Malaysia.

About 2,781 Nepali women joined foreign jobs in Asoj compared to 1,452 a month ago. UAE hired the highest number of 1,033 women, followed by Malaysia (789), Kuwait (351) and Qatar (95). However, women’s most preferred destination, Israel, did not hire a single worker last month.

Likewise, individual migration has reduced to 3,178 between mid-September and mid-October, including some 2,131 documented and legalised women migrant workers. About 539 Nepali migrant women reached Gulf countries legalising their earlier illegal entry to the destination.

The department data also showed that workers migration would increase in coming months due to increasing number of prior foreign jobs approvals. About 170,151 foreign job demands have been approved by the department in last three months from Shrawan (59,055) to Bhadra (44,111) and Asoj (66,985).

Published on: 2 November 2012 | The Himalayan Times