January 18: The number of Nepali nationals who took permits for foreign employment in the first six months of the current fiscal year (FY) has exceeded 300,000. According to the data released by the Department of Foreign Employment on Wednesday, 343,405 people received work permits for foreign employment from mid-July to mid-January of the current fiscal year.

Labor permits issued by the department has decreased by 17 percent this year compared to the first six months of last year. Altogether 414,546 Nepalis acquired work permits for foreign employment from mid-July to mid-January last year. A total of 771,327 labor permits were issued last year.

The maximum number of Nepalis visiting foreign countries for employment in the last one month (mid-December to mid-January) were from Dhanusha, Siraha and Rupandehi districts.

Only a handful of people from the mountainous districts of Manang opted for foreign employment during this period.

The statistics of the government show that a large number of Nepalis who go for foreign employment are unskilled workers.

The data of the department shows Nepalis have recently started going to European countries for foreign employment, a shift from the tradition of visiting the Gulf countries and Malaysia.

Altogether 1058 Nepalis visited Romania in a one month period from mid-December to mid-January followed by 558 people who went to Croatia, 357 people to Cyprus, 263 people to Malta, 183 people to Poland, 135 people to Serbia, 187 people to Britain, 41 people to Slovakia and 20 people to Turkey.

Nepali workers continue to go to Israel, which is considered an attractive destination for employment. In the first six months this year, 317 Nepalis went to Israel with work permits. Following to the Israel-Palestine war that erupted in October, 254 Nepalis returned home on a chartered plane sent by the government. The statistics show that Nepalis have not stopped visiting Israel even amid the ongoing war.