Nepali overseas workers double in 5 yrs
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
KATHMANDU, July 21 (Xinhua): The number of Nepali youths moving out for overseas jobs has more than doubled over the past five years, local newspaper The Kathmandu Post reported today.
Slim domestic employment opportunities and greater access to labor destinations amid sprouting manpower agencies has contributed to the soaring number of workers leaving for overseas jobs.
The number of Nepalis going for foreign employment has grown at double-digit steadily over this period. In the fiscal year 2007/2008, which ended last week, the number of overseas job goers grew by 20 per cent, compared to the previous fiscal year.
Statistics of Department of Labor shows that a total of 239,637 Nepali job seekers left for different destinations, mostly for blue-collar work, last fiscal year. The number was 199,191 during the fiscal year 2006/2007.
Only 106,660 workers in total had left for foreign jobs in fiscal year 2003/2004.
Officials attribute such a remarkable growth of overseas employment to the positive impact of labor pacts signed by Nepal with four recipient countries.
Over the last two years, Nepal has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Korea, Qatar and Bahrain to ensure greater rights of Nepali workers there.
As a result of labor agreements and change in working environment, the preferences regarding different destinations have also changed over the period.
Slim domestic employment opportunities and greater access to labor destinations amid sprouting manpower agencies has contributed to the soaring number of workers leaving for overseas jobs.
The number of Nepalis going for foreign employment has grown at double-digit steadily over this period. In the fiscal year 2007/2008, which ended last week, the number of overseas job goers grew by 20 per cent, compared to the previous fiscal year.
Statistics of Department of Labor shows that a total of 239,637 Nepali job seekers left for different destinations, mostly for blue-collar work, last fiscal year. The number was 199,191 during the fiscal year 2006/2007.
Only 106,660 workers in total had left for foreign jobs in fiscal year 2003/2004.
Officials attribute such a remarkable growth of overseas employment to the positive impact of labor pacts signed by Nepal with four recipient countries.
Over the last two years, Nepal has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Korea, Qatar and Bahrain to ensure greater rights of Nepali workers there.
As a result of labor agreements and change in working environment, the preferences regarding different destinations have also changed over the period.