Nearly 600,000 Nepalis Leave for Foreign Employment in Six Months

Despite the announcement of a general election and the country being in an election mode, the trend of labor migration has continued to rise. According to the latest data from the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 590,718 people obtained labor permits and went abroad between Shrawan and the end of Poush of the current fiscal year 2082/83.

Of the total, 196,042 individuals obtained re-entry labor permits. Among them, 4,866 workers went to Israel, South Korea, and the United Kingdom through government-to-government (G2G) arrangements. Similarly, 64,262 people went abroad with individual labor permits, while 325,407 departed through manpower companies, the department’s data show.

Officials estimate that the number of outbound workers may increase further after festivals, during the New Year period, and when demand rises in the construction and service sectors. In terms of destination countries, Gulf nations and Malaysia remain major destinations, while Japan, South Korea, and several European countries have also emerged as key labor markets in recent years. Demand for unskilled and semi-skilled workers remains high in the Gulf and Malaysia, whereas Japan and South Korea are attracting more workers with language skills and technical training.

5,766 Fraud Complaints Filed

Along with the rise in foreign employment, cases of fraud have also increased during the review period of the current fiscal year. According to the department’s half-yearly progress report, a total of 5,766 complaints related to foreign employment were registered from Shrawan to the end of Poush in fiscal year 2082/83.

Among the registered complaints, 568 were filed at the Rescue, Relief, and Coordination Section, 2,637 at the Police Section, and 2,561 at the Case Investigation Section. Complaints against manpower companies are registered at the Relief and Rescue Section, while cases of individual fraud are handled by the Police and Case Investigation sections. Of the total complaints filed during this period, 90.15 percent were related to individual fraud, while 9.85 percent involved manpower companies.

In the previous fiscal year 2081/82, around 5,000 complaints were registered over the entire 12-month period, with nearly 90 percent related to individual fraud. This year, more complaints have been filed within just six months than in the entire previous fiscal year.

Officials say the rise in fraud cases is linked to an increase in the number of people seeking foreign employment, the growing lure of European job opportunities for youths, and unauthorized advertisements circulating on social media.