Nepalese jobseekers abroad increase 26pc

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KATHMANDU, Dec 1 (Xinhua): The number of Nepali workers leaving for foreign employment increased 26 per cent during the first four months of the current fiscal year starting in mid-July, as compared to the same period last year, The Kathmandu Post reported today.
According to the data compiled by the department of labour, a total of 71,519 workers left for overseas jobs from mid-July to mid-November, which is 1,508 more than what was recorded last year.
Among the jobseekers, some 26,732 went to Qatar, which has overtaken Malaysia as the largest recipient country for Nepali workers.
Malaysia witnessed a whopping 34 per cent decline in the arrival of Nepali workers to 16,360 persons during the period under review.
The data showed that the United Arab Emirates, with which Nepal signed a labour pact some months ago, and Saudi Arabia saw encouraging 84 and 36 per cent increments in the number of Nepali workers during the period from 6,635 and 9,095 persons during the corresponding period last year.