High divorce rates among Nepali workers in Malaysia

KATHMANDU: A high rate of divorce has been observed among Nepali youth working in Malaysia.

Dr Netra Timsina, the Ambassador for Nepal to Malaysia, informed that he has signed over 60 divorce-related documents in just one month. “I signed 60 to 65 divorce-related documents in a month,” Timsina said in an interview with Himal Press. “On average, three people bring such documents to the embassy daily.”

According to Dr Timsina, most of the young men seeking divorce say, “It’s been so many years since I came here, and my wife keeps saying she will leave me. How can I stop her?” He also added that some wives file for divorce after discovering that their husbands have married other women in Malaysia.

For divorce proceedings, wives in Nepal send the necessary documents, while husbands working in Malaysia visit the embassy to sign the papers, according to officials of the Embassy of Nepal in Kuala Lumpur.

Around 400,000 Nepalis are currently working in Malaysia. They are employed in various sectors, including security services, manufacturing companies, agriculture, and service industries. Some Nepalis also work in the medical, nursing and information technology sectors.

Timisina added that some Nepalis are also engaged in general business activities in Malaysia. “The climate here is good, and the wages for workers are decent. Some face problems due to receiving incorrect information. However, those who come with accurate information do not face issues in Malaysia,” he added.