Foreign employment has become an important means of sustaining Nepal's economy and making economic activities viable. It has become a strong pillar of the economy, contributing to economic progress and making the workforce productive and competitive.

The government has also adopted a policy to maximize the capital, technology, skills and experience gained through foreign employment. But due to not being able to send skilled and skilled manpower for foreign employment, it has not become safe, respectable and dignified. The condition of foreign workers who are considered to be the cornerstone of Nepal's economy is deteriorating. 

The workers who went for foreign employment have to face problems, especially in the skilled and technical fields, not getting jobs, having to do risky work with very low wages, and lack of security and respect.

Because they went abroad without knowledge, skills and skills, the workers had to face various problems while working abroad. Despite facing many problems, they have become the conductors of Nepal's economic development. They have contributed 24 percent to the country's gross domestic product through remittances.

According to government data, 7 lakh youth from Nepal go for foreign employment every year. According to the data of the Foreign Employment Department, 2.182 thousand workers went for foreign employment in the last three years. Among them, the number of highly skilled manpower was only 1000.

In the last three financial years, the number of unskilled manpower was 630,000 out of the total number of foreign workers. Until a decade ago, most of the workers who went abroad for employment went abroad without skills. But now they have started going abroad for similar jobs after learning skills or getting the necessary educational qualifications.

The government study has shown that the number of people going to foreign jobs after acquiring the necessary skills and competencies has started to increase.

In the financial year 2080/81, 732 highly skilled workers migrated abroad for employment. Similarly, 5 lakh 32 thousand skilled workers, 60 thousand semi-skilled workers and 1 lakh 45 thousand 547 unskilled workers without any skills are mentioned in the foreign employment department data. 

Workers who go to work abroad once and return to the same job and those who learned skills from Nepal are counted as skilled workers. 

The government's data on the skills of expatriates does not seem to match the demand and supply of the market. It is mentioned in the draft immigration policy recently made by the government that Nepali workers have to face various problems due to lack of skills. According to the draft, most of the migrant workers have low levels of education and skills, so they have to engage in risky work, so the employment has not been as attractive, dignified and safe as expected. 

The Labor and Immigration Report 2022 also stated that the government's data on the efficiency of foreign workers is not reliable. In that report, it is mentioned that Nepal classified its migrant labor force as unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, professional, highly skilled as mentioned in the demand letter, but this classification does not match any international skill system. 

The draft prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security with the aim of making labor migration safe, orderly and dignified includes the need to develop well-informed, skilled, competitive and professional labor force according to the demand of the international labor market, to make labor diplomacy and the services it provides effective.

It is also mentioned that identifying and developing the skills and competencies of workers according to the demand and trends of the labor market of the destination country, and ensuring social security through the sustainable and respectful reintegration of workers who have returned from labor migration. Similarly, in bilateral labor agreements with labor destination countries, it is said that a policy will be taken to protect the rights of migrant workers and to follow international laws. 

The 61st annual report of the Auditor General, 2081 also pointed out that most of the Nepalis who go for foreign employment are unskilled and need to make extensive improvements. The report states that among the 22 lakh 88 thousand 26 who went for foreign employment from 2074/075 to 2078/079, there are 0.03 percent of highly skilled workers, 0.13 percent of professionals, 36.51 percent of skilled workers, 8.75 percent of semi-skilled workers and 54.58 percent of unskilled workers.

In the policy and program of the fiscal year 2082/083 brought by the government a few days ago, it is mentioned that policies, laws and procedures will be revised and formulated to make foreign employment safe, dignified and orderly. The government's policy is to expand the role of the National Business Training Institute to prepare skilled manpower according to the demands of the international labor market.

In the policies and programs of the fiscal year 2081/082, the government introduced programs such as amendments to foreign employment related laws, ensuring employment with skills, free orientation training, revision of labor contracts to make foreign employment safe and dignified.

The government had taken a policy to provide start-up capital to skilled youths who returned from foreign employment to become entrepreneurs since the financial year 2077/078. Issues such as skilled workers, respect for work, self-employment, appropriate wages and labor management with social protection are being included in the government's labor policy. But due to the weaknesses in the implementation, the expected progress has not been achieved. 

The government has given a policy to teach skills to young people at home or abroad and employ them in the technical sector. The five-year plan and annual policy programs aim to develop skilled manpower. But that manpower could not be made equally skilled.

The government has claimed to train 30,000 manpower annually through the Skill Development Training Center under the Secretariat of the Foreign Employment Board. But the fact that a large number of unskilled manpower has gone abroad is in front of us. 

Although Nepali workers go to foreign jobs without sufficient skills, it seems that the demand for Nepali workers is higher than in other countries. Employers in labor destination countries demand Nepalese workers because Nepalis are honest, hardworking and can be employed at low wages compared to other countries. Last year, from July to mid-March, 6,7874 people went abroad with new and renewed labor permits. 

According to the data of the National Census, 2078, 21 lakh 90 thousand 592 Nepalis were abroad, and in the Economic Survey Report 080/081, the number of Nepali workers who took work permit to go for foreign employment till last February has reached 59 lakh 69 thousand. 64 percent of those who have received a work permit to go abroad are new workers. The government has started keeping records of Nepalis going for foreign employment since 2050/051. Currently, 111 countries have been institutionally opened for foreign employment. 

Although the government has started efforts for safe, dignified and dignified foreign employment since three decades ago, Nepalis are forced to do low-level work for very low wages because they are unable to send skilled workers. In order to achieve more returns from foreign employment, it is necessary to emphasize the skill development of the skilled and semi-skilled workers who are exported, and make the necessary training mandatory before going abroad. In addition to increasing the production of goods and services in the country, a suitable environment for those returning from foreign employment to conduct business in the country  It seems that effective work should be done in the direction of preparing