KATHMANDU – The government of Nepal announced Tuesday it has restarted the process of granting work permits to citizens seeking employment in Middle Eastern countries, ending a six-week suspension that was implemented due to ongoing regional conflicts.
The decision to halt permit issuance had been made on March 1, one day following the start of the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, but officials now say conditions warrant resuming the program.
“Permit resumption follows advice from the foreign ministry and high demand from workers,” stated Pitambar Ghimire, a spokesperson for Nepal’s labor ministry, when speaking with Reuters.
The economic implications of this decision are significant for the Himalayan nation. Approximately three-quarters of all Nepali citizens working overseas are employed in Middle Eastern countries, primarily in construction and manual labor positions. Financial experts indicate that money sent home by these workers accounts for more than 25% of Nepal’s $42 billion economy.
Nepal’s domestic employment situation helps explain the high demand for overseas work opportunities. Current World Bank statistics show the country has a youth unemployment rate of 20.6% among its 30 million residents, representing the highest such percentage across all South and Southeast Asian nations.
Industry representatives estimate that roughly 3 million Nepali nationals are currently employed in foreign countries. Labor organizations calculate that approximately 1,500 young people depart Nepal daily in search of work abroad, primarily due to limited employment prospects within their home country.
Under Nepali law, citizens must obtain government-issued work permits before accepting employment in foreign nations, making the suspension and subsequent resumption of this process particularly significant for job seekers.
