Kathmandu, October 22

More than one-third of the migrant workers going abroad for employment hail from seven districts of the country. Dhanusha, Siraha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Jhapa, Morang and Saptari covered 34.42 per cent of total migrant workers who left the country in the second month of the current fiscal year — mid-August to mid-September.

Out of a total 31,086 migrant workers who left the country in the review month, 10,699 were from the aforementioned seven districts. According to data maintained by the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), 2,334 people from Dhanusha, 1,666 people from Siraha, 1,627 people from Mahottari, 1329 people from Sarlahi, 1,323 people from Jhapa, 1,300 people from Morang and 1,120 people from Saptari districts went abroad for jobs in review period.

Similarly, among seven districts, five districts fall in Province 2. Dhanusha, Siraha, Mahottari, Sarlahi and Saptari lie in Province 2.

Former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission Yubaraj Khatiwada, said that due to the high population density and low opportunity for jobs, youths from the Tarai region are compelled to go to India and other third countries to seek jobs. “It is not only in the third countries but thousands of Nepalis can be found in India too looking for jobs. There are no opportunities for the youths in the Tarai, hence they are going abroad,” he explained.

Meanwhile, very few people from districts belonging to the mountainous region and Karnali zone have taken final approval from DoFE in review period. Just one person from Manang took final approval in review month. Similarly, three people from Mustang, four from Dolpa, nine from Humla and 17 people from Mugu districts had taken the final approval.

According to DoFE, the number of people who have taken final approval in the review month has slightly gone down against the same period of the last fiscal year. In the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, 32,769 people had taken the final approval.

Since the diplomatic rift between Qatar and its neighbouring countries started in the first week of June, Nepali migrant workers have chosen Malaysia as their first destination during the period. In the same period last year, 10,783 workers left for Qatar, however the number came down to 6,982 this fiscal. Malaysia received 12,050 workers from Nepal in the review month this fiscal against 7,292 in the same period of last year.

Similarly, the number of migrant wMore than one-third of the migrant workers going abroad for employment hail from seven districts of the country. Dhanusha, Siraha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Jhapa, Morang and Saptari covered 34.42 per cent of total migrant workers who left the country in the second month of the current fiscal year — mid-August to mid-September.orkers who went to Saudi Arabia also declined in the second month of the current fiscal. Saudi Arabia had received 9,158 workers from Nepal in the same period of last fiscal, which dropped to 4,528 in the current year.

Foreign employment expert Ganesh Gurung, said that after the diplomatic rift between Qatar and its neighbouring countries migrant workers started fearing about losing jobs in the Gulf and started to opt for Malaysia. “Qatar needs massive human resources till 2022 because the country is constructing mega projects for the FIFA World Cup 2022. However, due to security concerns and the fear of losing jobs workers are reluctant to go to Qatar,” he stated.

Gurung also said that Saudi Arabia at the moment if facing an economic crisis that has directly affected the labour market in the country, which consequently has affected Nepali workers too.