The number of Nepali workers leaving for overseas jobs went up by a whopping 26 percent in the first three months of the current fiscal year as compared to the same period last year.
According to the data compiled by the Department of Labor (DoL), the total number of blue-collar workers heading for foreign jobs till mid-October 2007 reached 56,689, up from 44,881 recorded during the corresponding period last year.
During the last three months, Qatar topped the list of host countries for Nepali workers, receiving a total of 20,929 persons, about 112 percent up from last year's figure. Likewise, Saudi Arabia welcomed 46 percent more Nepali jobseekers than in the previous year when it took in 7,406 persons.
However, Malaysia, which was the largest employer of Nepali workers till a few months ago, showed a sharp drop. The number of workers leaving for Malaysia plummeted by 35 percent to 13,538 from 20,969 in the previous year.
The number of workers employed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which signed a labor pact with Nepal some five months ago, increased by 81percent to 10,830 from the previous figure of 4,866 persons.
During the period mid-September to mid-October, Qatar was the first destination for Nepali workers with 6,984 persons going there. The UAE climbed to third place in the list of foreign employers, hiring 3,390 Nepali workers. A total of 3,390 and 4,435 workers flew to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia during the month.
Officials said more Nepalis were traveling abroad to work because of increasing demand for their services. The labor pact signed with the UAE encouraged more Nepalis to go there as it made them feel more secure. Massive construction projects being commissioned in the Middle East were also a major factor behind the rush to hire laborers.
During the month, 19,041 Nepali jobseekers went to 12 different countries, with New Zealand emerging as the latest destination.