Migrant worker departure up 19pc
The number of Nepalis leaving for overseas employment surged 19.87 percent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period last year. The growth has been supported by increased hiring by major destinations like Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment, departures of migrant workers reached 240,269 during the nine-month period against 200,442 in the same period last year. They included 5,922 women workers.
The department said that outbound would have been greater if not for the unrest in the Middle East. The trend of leaving for jobs in Libya, Bahrain and Oman has declined lately because of the conflict in these countries.
“There has been a negative impact of the unrest in the Middle East during the last few months. However, the overall hiring from Nepal has increased,” said Chandra Man Shrestha, acting director general of the department. He added that departures had increased with spurred demand from Malaysia and Qatar in particular.
During the review period, Malaysia took in 80,370 workers from Nepal, up from 68,876. Qatar, the second largest job market, absorbed 65,365 workers, a whopping increment of 53.67 from 42,535 previously with increased demand from the infrastructure sector targeting the 2022 Soccer World Cup. Similarly, departures to Saudi Arabia and the UAE rose from 44,281 to 46,906 and from 25,628 to 29,109 respectively.
Despite the increased hiring from major labour destinations, the growth rate of workers leaving the country, however, has declined to the lowest 0.17 percent in the ninth month (mid-March to mid-April). The growth rate was at 62.83 percent in the third month.
During the ninth month, a total of 29,606 workers, including 958 female, left the country for foreign employment. The figure in the same period last year was at 29,555. Foreign employment agencies say that they have not been able to supply work force as expected this year because of unrest in the Middle East and shortage of passport as well.
“Demands are not coming significantly except from Qatar,” said Kumud Khanal, general secretary of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies. He said the passport shortage problem has also been barring potential workers form leaving the country.
Due to the fighting in the Middle East, departures to Libya, Oman and Bahrain have dropped; and the department has also stopped issuing permits to work in these countries. Shrestha said that the government had been mulling reopening Oman with increased pressure from labour outsourcing agencies.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is analyzing the situation to find out if it is okay to send workers there,” added Shrestha. Oman hired 1,568 workers during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Likewise, Bahrain, considered to be one of the best labour markets in the Middle East, provided jobs to 2,902 Nepalis.
migrant workers’ departure
Month FY 09/10 FY 10/11
Mid-July - Mid-Aug. 19,492 29,685
Mid-Aug. - Mid-Sept. 22,727 25,375
Mid-Sept. - Mid-Oct. 14,462 23,548
Mid-Oct.- Mid-Nov. 19,515 23,809
Mid-Nov. - Mid-Dec. 23,405 24,614
Mid-Dec.- Mid-Jan. 24,180 30,485
Mid-Jan. - Mid-Feb. 25,948 28,136
Mid-Feb. - Mid-March 21,158 25,011
Mid-March - Mid-April 29,555 29,606
Total 200,442 240,269
Posted on: 2011-04-21 09:55
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