Seven percent growth in foreign employment

Seven percent growth in foreign employment
Nepalnews.com, 27-Jun-07

Compared to the previous fiscal year, the number of people leaving Nepal for employment purposes recorded a slight growth this year. In the past one month alone, some 21,175 Nepalese citizens left Nepal in search of greener pastures abroad.

The number of people going for foreign employment has increased by 6.9 percent in the first 11 months of current fiscal year (July 16, 2006 to July 15, 2007), according to the Department of Labor and Employment Promotion.

During this period, 176,115 persons left the country for 14 different labor destinations around the world, the department said. Last year some 164,742 persons had left the country for foreign employment. Lack of employment opportunities in the country is said to be the main reason why increasing number of Nepalese youths are heading abroad.

As per recent figures, Malaysia remains the most preferred destination among people going for foreign employment. However, number of workers leaving for Malaysia decreased by 13 percent to 65,455 this year from last years 75,758. But in aggregate, around 50 percent of the total outgoing workers left for Malaysia this fiscal year, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

However, according to manpower companies, increasing number of Nepalese workers are now heading to Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arab for foreign employment.

Oppressive labor acts, unsafe working environment and harassments are said to be some of the reasons that are putting off Nepalese workers from Malaysia.