Foreign employment is basically a compulsion for Nepalis. Millions of young people go abroad for employment every year because there are not enough employment opportunities in the country for the youth who enter the labor market every year, the job security is not there, and the remuneration is not respectable.

Those who have not been able to find success in their business ventures at home have turned to foreign employment as an alternative. In this way, Nepali youth have reached most of the countries of the world in search of employment opportunities. There are also many dark sides to foreign employment, although it cannot be forgotten that it has enriched the daily economic behavior of millions of families.

Although it has become an integral part of Nepali society and the country, there is an increased possibility of a contraction in foreign employment. If that happens, multifaceted problems may arise here. Which may be difficult for families, society and the government to cope with. Therefore, the government needs to take diplomatic initiatives in a timely manner.

According to the data of the Department of Foreign Employment, 55,957 Nepalis went for foreign employment in the fiscal year 2081/82 alone. The main countries of choice for Nepalis are UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Romania, Japan, South Korea, Croatia, Malaysia, Bahrain, etc. Even though they have reached these countries, they have been able to invest in the education of their children due to the meager money they have earned.

They have been able to invest in everything from nutrition to health care for children and the elderly. Some have started their own small businesses due to the earnings from foreign employment. In this way, foreign employment has become a strong alternative for income for millions of Nepalis. At the same time, Nepali women are also working in various countries these days and have become the financial pillar of the family. Therefore, foreign employment has also become a reliable means of providing economic independence to Nepali women and contributing to women's empowerment.

Foreign employment is also a strong backbone to save the country from bankruptcy. Because, even in the absence of significant foreign exchange income from tourism or exports, foreign exchange reserves have increased significantly due to foreign employment. According to the National Bank, the country's foreign exchange (currency) reserves have reached 2881.35 billion rupees as of last Bhadra.

The main reason for this is remittances. Until last Ashar, remittances were holding records. In the previous month, the highest monthly remittance of 189 billion rupees entered the country. 177 billion and 174 billion were received in Shrawan and Bhadra, respectively. This has helped maintain the balance of payments. If there is an efficient government, there is a good opportunity for infrastructure construction to reconstruction. In this way, foreign employment has become a means of providing economic strength not only to individuals and families, but also to the country as a whole.

While it was easy to go to most countries for employment earlier, obstacles have been created recently. As a result, concerns have been expressed that foreign employment will be in crisis for Nepalis. One of the major destinations, Malaysia, has reduced the quota allocated for foreign workers. Due to which employment has only been partially opened since 2024. The UAE has stopped both employment visas and visit visas after the protests on 23 and 24 Bhadra.

A stable labor market for Nepal Saudi Arabia has been prioritizing Pakistan and Bangladesh. It has tightened visas for Nepalis after the Gen-G movement. After the 2022 World Cup, the construction of large projects in Qatar has decreased. Although there used to be a majority of Nepalis for construction, as it has stabilized, employment opportunities for Nepalis have decreased.

European countries have never been easy in terms of cost and process. That remains the case. On the one hand, the inability to create employment opportunities within the country, and on the other hand, the creation of obstacles in the destination country, seem to be creating a major crisis in the country in the coming days.

There is no sign of immediate economic development and prosperity in the country. Unless development and construction accelerate, construction-related projects are built in a big way, and the service sector expands significantly, there is no possibility of a significant increase in employment opportunities. In such a situation, self-employment and entrepreneurship cannot grow.

The youth who have entered the labor market will not be able to find employment within the country and will have difficulty going out, which will encourage political and social dissatisfaction and resentment. Ultimately, chaos may also result. Therefore, the government's initiative is necessary to restore the opportunities that have shrunk in various countries to their original state.