E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, NOV 18 - The number of Nepali migrant workers leaving the country for employment abroad has decreased significantly during mid-October to mid-November amid a decline in labour export to Qatar, one of the major destinations for jobseekers.

According to the monthly data on foreign employment compiled by the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), the number of individuals leaving for work decreased by 20.33 percent to 14,528 individuals including 425 women migrant workers.

During the same period last year, a total of 18,236 individuals including 277 women had left the country for work in 13 various labour destinations.

Tilak Ranabhat, president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said that even though the number had decreased compared to last year, total outbound was increasing every month with the global financial crisis easing.

"The number had decreased during mid-September to mid-October, but it has increased heavily indicating that people have started to leave for work after the festive season," he said. During mid-September to mid-October, only 10,325 individuals had left for foreign employment.

As per the DoFE, Malaysia absorbed the highest number of Nepali migrant working during mid-October to mid-November. It took in 6,335 individuals, which is up by 39.29 percent compared to the same period last year.

"The trend of leaving for work in Malaysia is increasing because of levy waiver and the easing financial crisis in the business sector there," said Kashi Nath Masasini, a director at the DoFE.      

Qatar, the most desired destination for Nepali workers after Malaysia, took in 2,293 individuals. The number is down 66.97 percent compared to the same period last year. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates took in 3,630 and 1,215 individuals respectively. Lebanon has become the fifth largest destination absorbing 4,21 Nepali workers.

Even though the number of Nepali migrant workers leaving the country through the institutional medium has decreased, the number leaving through personal contacts has increased by 100.95 percent to 4,636 persons compared to 2,307 during the same period last year.

Masasini said that since the total number of Nepalis working abroad was increasing every year, their personal contacts was also increasing which has inspired many people to leave for work on their own.

Posted on: 2009-11-18 10:01

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