Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The number of Nepali youths leaving for foreign employment declined marginally in the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, largely due to the West Asia crisis.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), a total of 587,340 Nepalis obtained labour permits, both new and renewed, for overseas jobs during the review period. This is lower than the 607,874 permits issued in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
The monthly outflow figures indicate fluctuations throughout the period. A total of 68,110 individuals left for foreign employment in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), followed by 67,972 in Bhadra (mid-Aug to mid-Sept), 64,634 in Asoj (mid-Sept to mid-Oct), and 73,094 in Kartik (mid-Oct to mid-Nov). Similarly, 65,705 Nepalis went abroad in Mangsir (mid-Nov to mid-Dec), 62,559 in Poush (mid-Dec to mid-Jan), 70,503 in Magh (mid-Jan to mid-Feb), 52,944 in Falgun (mid-Feb to mid-March), and 61,819 in Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April).
The number of youths leaving for foreign job destinations in Chaitra fell 15.78% compared to the same month of the previous fiscal year, when the country issued 73,403 labor permits. Likewise, the number of labor permits issued in Falgun (mid-Feb to mid-March) declined by about 16,000 compared with the same month in the previous fiscal year.
The number of youths receiving labor permits has been declining since the Israel-US attack in Iran in the last week of February. The attack soon escalated into a full-blown crisis in West Asia. Since the Gulf states are the major destinations for Nepali labor, the West Asia crisis has directly affected youths preparing to head to countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman.
Remittances sent by migrant workers have remained a major pillar of the Nepali economy for many years. Total remittances inflows reached Rs 1,723.27 billion in 2024/25. It has already reached Rs 1,449.65 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. A decline in the number of youths heading for overseas jobs, however, is certain to hit remittances.
The government suspended issuance of labor permits for 12 countries—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel—as conflict escalated in West Asia. Although it has resumed issuing renewed permits for seven nations—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, and Turkey—issuance of new permits to all 12 countries remains suspended.
