Increasing conflicts in West Asia have directly impacted the employment and safety of more than 1.7 million Nepali migrant workers. The government has halted sending new laborers to high-risk countries, and over 80,000 workers have already registered to return home. The conflict threatens to exacerbate domestic employment issues and invigorate the activities of labor brokers. 10 Chaitra, Kathmandu.
Rising military tensions in West Asia are seriously affecting Nepal’s overseas employment sector alongside the global economy. Millions of migrant workers are employed in Gulf countries, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, and Palestine, including over two million Nepali workers. According to official data, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports around 1.7 million Nepalis in these countries, with even more residing informally, bringing the total to approximately two million.
The conflict is beginning to directly affect Nepali workers’ employment, income, and safety. According to the Department of Foreign Employment’s data for fiscal year 2081/82, 839,266 people obtained labor permits for overseas employment. This highlights how tensions in Nepal’s major labor destination countries clearly impact foreign employment opportunities.
Labor and migration expert Dr. Jeevan Baniya noted the conflict’s potential to directly affect overseas employment. He explained that if the war prolongs, the number of workers going abroad will naturally decrease, creating new risks. With the government’s ban on sending workers to risk-prone areas, outgoing labor flows from Nepal will decline, and many migrant workers abroad may be compelled to return home, he added.
