This undated photo shows migrant workers boarding a Qatar Airlines flights at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
Photo Courtesy: Center for the Study of Labor and Mobility
KATHMANDU: Over 700,000 Nepalis left for foreign employment in 2023 – the highest so far.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment, a total of 725,000 Nepalis left the country for employment in 92 countries during the year. The number includes workers leaving the country with both institutional and individual labor permits.
As the number of youth pursuing foreign employment rises, the number of Nepalis losing their lives on foreign land is also rising. Accidents and sudden deaths have been the major causes of deaths of Nepali workers so far. In 2023, however, Nepalis lost lives in war zones as well.
So far, 18 Nepalis have lost their lives in war zones in Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine, while five have been taken hostage.
Many Nepali youths are believed to have joined the Russian Army. Most of these youths had left the country on work, study, or visiting visas. There, however, is no exact number of Nepali youths that have joined the Russian army, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the department, three workers return back to Nepal every day on average after running into problems at their job destinations. Likewise, the number of workers returning home after falling ill and getting injured is around 15 every day.
In the first five months of the current fiscal year, 483 Nepalis have lost their lives on foreign land, according to the Foreign Employment Promotion Board Secretariat.
10 dead in Israel
Ten Nepalis lost their lives when Hamas attacked Israel in the first week of October. All of them were students of agricultural science at Sudurpashchim University. They were on an 11-month internship program named ‘Learn and Learn’.
Narayan Prasad Neupane of Kailali, Ganesh Kumar Nepali of Bajhang, Ashish Chaudhary of Kailali, Dipesh Raj Bista and Lokendra Singh Dhami of Darchula, Rajan Fulara and Padam Thapa of Doti, Anand Sah of Dhanusha, and Rajes Kumar Swarnaka of Sunsari died during the Hamas attack on Israel.
Bipin Joshi of Kanchanpur has been taken hostage by Hamas. The efforts to secure his release have not become successful.
Eight lost lives in Russia
As many as eight Nepalis have lost their lives on Russia-Ukraine war fronts over the past three months.
According to the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow, the deceased have been identified as Sandeep Thapaliya of Gorkha, Rupak Karki of Kapilvastu, Dewan Rai of Kaski, Pritam Rai of Syangja, Rajkumar Roka of Dolakha, Gangaraj Moktan of Ilam, Bharat Shah of Kailali, and Kundan Singh Nagal.
While Nepalis in Russia have been saying that over 1,000 Nepalis have joined the Russian army, the government hasn’t made public details of Nepali youths serving in the Russian Army.
The foreign ministry said last month that four Nepalis working for the Russian army have been held prisoner in Ukraine. Bibek Khatri of Bardiya, Siddhartha Dhakal of Kavre, Bikas Rai of Morang, and Pratik Pun of Rolpa have been held prisoners by the Ukrainian Army.
Dandu Raj Ghimire, the director general of the Department of Foreign Employment, said different problems were seen in foreign employment in 2023. “We brought home the highest ever remittances and signed labor agreements with a record number of countries during the year,” he said. “We have signed labor agreements with Romania and Germany. Very soon, Nepali workers will be able to work in these European countries.”
Employment expert Dr. Ganesh Gurung said Nepali youths, who left for foreign countries after failing to land a job here, have died while serving foreign armies. “The government should be serious about alternatives and security in foreign employment. Otherwise, even greater problems will be seen in foreign employment,” he added.
Data compiled by the department shows around 1,700 Nepalis are leaving for foreign job destinations every day.
