Overseas employment sees a whopping 21 percent rise

The number of Nepali workers leaving for jobs overseas rose by almost 21 percent last year.

According to a data maintained by Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DoLEP), a total of 199,191 Nepali workers flew to 15 different countries for overseas jobs during last fiscal year 2063/64 (2006/07). Last year the number was some 177,066 Nepali workers who had left the country for foreign employment.

During this period a total of 71, 074 Nepali workers flew to Malaysia, the most attractive destination for Nepali overseas workers for the last five years. However, the number was a 14 percent dip from previous year's 83,030. Experts say decreasing salary and wages and almost non-existent social security is the reason why there is a sharp decline in Nepali workers going to Malaysia.

The DoLEP data shows that during the period the number of Nepali labourers leaving for Qatar, the second popular destination after Malaysia, increased by a paltry 0.10 percent to 58,084 from last year's number of 58,021.

However, the number of labourers going to Saudi Arabia, the third most preferred job destination, grew by 113 percent during this period from what was recorded in 2005/06, receiving some 37,797 Nepali workers. Till five years ago Saudi Arabia used to be the most preferred destination for Nepali job seekers, until Malaysia took that position.

Likewise, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with which Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labour last month, also absorbed 58 percent more Nepali workers than the prevous year. Over 24,700 Nepalis left for UAE during the year, shows DoLEP data.

Number of workers leaving for Israel, which has fast emerged as a lurcrative destination for Nepali women, declined by 53 percent, compared to 948 of the previous fiscal year.

Some Nepali overseas workers have also made their way to America, Singapore, Macau including other countries. Hong Kong and Israel have recently emerged as the most preferred destination for overseas job for Nepali women of late. nepalnews.com ag Aug 02 07