January 21: There has been a sharp decline in the number of Nepalis going to Europe for employment. In the first six months of the current fiscal year (FY), the number of Nepalis visiting Europe for foreign employment has decreased by 1.47 percent compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year.

According to the data released recently by the Department of Foreign Employment, 23,655 Nepalis traveled to European countries for employment as of mid-January of the current fiscal year. During the same period of last year, a total of 24,008 Nepalis went to Europe for employment.

Statistics show that Nepali migrant workers prefer European countries like Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Poland, and the UK for foreign employment.

Data show that the number of Nepalis going to Romania, Poland, UK and other countries has decreased this year compared to last year. Meanwhile, the number of Nepalis visiting Cyprus, Austria, Albania, Russia has increased in the first six months of current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last FY.

Altogether 3,983 Nepalis went to Croatia in the first six months of the previous year while 6, 024 people went to Croatia during the same period this year. Last year, 4,508 Nepalis visited Malta as of mid-January, but this year 3,935 people went to Malta. It seems that the number of people going to Cyprus has increased to 2,692 this year from 2,304 last year.

The number of people visiting Israel is also less than half compared to the last FY. As of last year, 887 Nepalis went to Israel but the number is only 400 this year. After Hamas militants attacked Israel in October, a total of 254 Nepalis returned home on a chartered plane sent by the government.

The number of Nepalis traveling to Russia has increased this year compared to the previous year. Altogether 146 Nepalis had gone to Russia as of mid-January of last FY which increased to 346 this year.

Russia is engaged in a war with Ukraine since almost two years. Many Nepali citizens have reportedly joined the Russian army for lucrative salary. However,  the government data show that the number of Nepalis joining the Russian army has decreased significantly since last month after a number of Nepalis died in the war. The Government of Nepal has urged its citizens not to join any foreign military except a few armies that have been recruiting Nepalis since a long time.