Kathmandu—Even as the country remains engaged in election-related activities, the outflow of Nepalis seeking employment abroad continues at a significant pace. Nearly 600,000 Nepalis left the country for foreign employment in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2082/83.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 590,717 Nepalis obtained work permits and went to various countries for employment during this period. The figures include only those workers who formally received labour permits through official channels.
Out of the total number, 514,350 were men and 76,368 were women. The department’s data also shows that 196,042 individuals re-obtained work permits, indicating a large number of returnee migrant workers heading abroad again.
On average, around 98,000 Nepalis are leaving the country each month for foreign employment, reflecting the continued dependence on overseas jobs amid limited domestic opportunities. In the month of March alone, 62,559 Nepalis went abroad for work, including 55,541 men and 7,018 women.
The sustained migration flow has resulted in a noticeable rush at Tribhuvan International Airport, underscoring the scale of labour migration even during a politically active period in the country.
