March 16, 2009 17:46 PM

Nepali Leaving For Foreign Jobs Dropped

KATHMANDU, March 16 (Bernama) -- The number of Nepali workers leaving for foreign employment during the first eight months of the current fiscal year has decreased by 17 percent as compared to the same period last year, China's Xinhua news agency reported Monday citing a local media as saying.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), the number of migrant workers departing for overseas destinations during the period was 126,812 persons compared to 152,682 previously.

Director of the DoFE Bed Prakash Lekhak told eKantipur.com that the decline was due to the global recession and manpower agencies responding to demands from only genuine employers.

He added that the government had stopped issuing work permits for Malaysia.

"During the same period last year, there were 656 departures daily. The number has now come down to 402," he said.

Lekhak said that the number of Nepali women migrant workers leaving for Israel had increased.

"As Israel provides security and a good salary, it has become the favored destination for Nepali women," he added.

With Nepal gradually starting to feel the effects of the global recession as Nepali migrant workers return from major job destinations, the government is working to send Nepali jobseekers to Libya.

"We will start sending Nepali workers to Libya after sorting out issues related to wages, facilities and pre-departure costs," said Chandra Prasad Joshi, under secretary of the DoFE.

"We also have demands for manpower from the industrial sector of Japan," said Joshi, adding that the government was undergoing evaluation of manpower agencies, which will be responsible for sending workers to Japan.

-- BERNAMA

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