KATHMANDU; The number of Nepali blue-collar workers going abroad has increased in recent months.

Around 25,280 Nepalis got overseas jobs in Poush (mid-December to mid-January) — an increase of 31.25 per cent over the same period last year.

The labour market abroad is reviving after a sharp fall in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) data show. Shrawan had recorded negative growth (-4,608) of foreign employment compared to the same period last year and the trend continued till Kartik (mid-October to mid-November).

According to DoFE, 1,25,081 Nepalis left the country for oversea jobs in the fiscal year 2009-10. Malaysia topped in hiring Nepalese workers with 7,865 offers.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE recruited 5,765, 4,949 and 3,900 Nepalis, respectively in Poush. Kuwait also has emerged as a new destination hiring 1,141 Nepalis.

Around six dozen countries hired Nepali workers between mid-December to mid-January.

New destinations like Angola, Bermuda, Mali, Yemen, Senegal and Sudan emerged in the last two months. These countries are not in the sending countries’ list of the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM).

A sharp fall was noticed in the number of women going overseas due to the ban by Israel.

Only 26 Nepalis including one male managed to enter Israel through individual contracts between mid-December 2009 and mid-January 2010.

Israel has imposed a ban on Nepali workers since April 24. According DoFE, 16 Nepalis were employed in South Korea under Employment Permit System (EPS) in the period.

Around 21,658 Nepalis got prior approval for foreign jobs in Poush (mid-December to mid-January).

The highest numbers of Nepalis got the approval for Malaysia (10,597). The trend was followed by Saudi Arabia with 4,673 approvals. Qatar was third with 2,730 approval.

The United Arab Emirates had 2,098, Kuwait 950 and Oman 375. Only 25 Nepali women got prior approval last month.