Number of outbound workers up
KATHMANDU, MAY 21 -
Overseas recruitment of Nepali workers has increased notably in the first 10 months (mid-July to mid-May) of the current fiscal year, with the number of outbound workers rising 16.23 percent over the period.
Except for Malaysia, hiring by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait posted an impressive growth.
A total of 313,093 individuals (including 18,237 women) left the country for overseas jobs during the first 10 months, compared to 269,367 individuals in the same period last year, according to the Department of Foreign Employment.
Experts said the number of workers eyeing foreign employment was increasing because of the lack of jobs in home, comparatively low salary, political instability, frequent strikes and poor industrial situation, among others. “Until five year ago, only around 400 individuals used to leave for foreign employment each day, the number now has gone up to more than 1,400 a day,” said Chiranjibi Nepal, economist and foreign employment expert.
In the first 10 months, Qatar hired 91,243 workers, against last year’s 74,242, with infrastructure development work speeding up in the run up to the 2022 Soccer World Cup. Hiring from Saudi Arabia went up by 21.36 percent to 63,867. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait recruited 47,833 and 20,142 Nepalis, respectively. The countries had hired 33,142 and 10,681 Nepali workers, respectively, in the same period last year.
“Demand for Nepali workers from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have increased,” said Bal Bahadur Tamang, president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies. He said Nepali recruiting agencies were able to meet only around 50 percent of the demand from Qatar.
Of late, the trend of high-skilled workers leaving the country is also increasing. Recruiting agencies said such skilled professionals included doctors and engineers. “Nepali youth with good education background are hired by super markets, hotels and other service areas,” said Tamang.
Meanwhile, Nepali workers’ departure to Malaysia, a major labour destination, has declined. According to the department, hiring by Malaysia is down 17.49 percent. The country had hired 87,829 Nepali workers last year.
Foreign employment agencies said Malaysia’s recent decision to end the ban on the hiring
of Bangladeshi workers could further slow down the demand for Nepali workers from the
country. Monthly departure figures show that the number workers leaving for jobs declined to 29,123 individuals in the 10th month (mid-April to mid-May) from 33,858 a year ago. Qatar took in 7,124 during the period.
Saudi Arabia and Malaysia hired 6,833 and 6,828 workers, respectively. The UAE and
Kuwait hired 3,837 and 2,745 individuals, respectively.
Number of outbound Nepali workers in first 10 months
Destination > 2011-12 > 2010-11
Qatar > 91,243 > 74,282
Saudi Arabia > 63,867 > 52,626
Malaysia > 72,460 > 87,829
The UEA > 47,833 > 33,145
Kuwait > 20,145 > 10,681
Source: Department of Foreign Employment
Overall departures in first 10 months
Period > Number of Workers
2011/12 > 313,093
2010/11 > 269,367
2009/10 > 229,582
Source: Department of Foreign Employment/ Kantipur
