KATHMANDU: The number of Nepali workers leaving for Malaysia for employment has surpassed last year's figure.

According to the data provided by the Ministry of Labour and Transport, a total of 105,001 Nepalis flew to Malaysia in first nine months of the current fiscal for foreign employment. The figure was 60,979 when compared to same period last year.

According to Managing Director at the Department of Foreign Employment under the Ministry, Indra Dev Pandey, the demand for Nepali workers in the labor market of Middle-East countries including Malaysia and Qatar has increased.

Qatar falls second to Malaysia in terms of flow of the Nepali migrant workers. The data showed that 81,364 Nepalis set out for Qatar alone this year.