Europe Emerging as Major Employment Destination for Nepali Workers

The number of Nepalis travelling to Europe for employment has surged sharply in recent years, marking a significant shift in the country’s traditional foreign labour destinations.

According to the Nepal Labour Migration Report 2024 published by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the number of Nepalis going to Europe for work has increased more than 350 percent over the past five years. Until about two decades ago, India, along with Gulf countries such as the UAE and Qatar and destinations like Malaysia, accounted for most Nepali migrant workers. In recent years, however, Europe has emerged as a major alternative destination.

In the fiscal year 2017/18, a total of 11,760 Nepalis obtained labour permits to work in Europe. By the end of 2024, the number had risen to 55,117, the report shows.

European countries that have recently emerged as new labour destinations for Nepali workers include Romania, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, Malta, Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia and Jordan. Nepali workers have largely travelled to these countries by obtaining individual labour permits.

Read: Nepali Workers Increasingly Heading to Europe Despite Lack of Labor Agreements

Government data show that only 316 Nepalis went to Romania for employment in 2017/18. By 2024, the figure had jumped to 12,700. Similarly, while just five Nepalis obtained labour permits to work in Croatia seven years ago, the number rose to 14,240 last year.

Nepali workers have begun travelling to countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovakia only in the past five years. In Bulgaria, two Nepalis went for employment in 2020/21, but the number increased to 1,677 by 2024. Until 2020, no Nepalis had travelled to Serbia or Slovakia for work. In 2024 alone, 1,915 Nepalis obtained labour permits for Serbia and 389 for Slovakia.

The government data indicate a major shift in Nepal’s labour migration pattern.

President of the Foreign Employment Agencies Association of Nepal, Bhuwan Singh Gurung, said that although European countries are increasingly attractive for Nepali workers, the absence of bilateral labour agreements has created challenges. He stressed the need for the government to sign labour agreements with high-demand destination countries to facilitate safer and more organised labour migration. Gurung also said the government should support manpower agencies in exploring new labour markets.

The report further shows that a majority of Nepali workers travelling to Europe are unskilled or semi-skilled. Countries such as Cyprus, Romania and Malta have received a large number of unskilled and semi-skilled workers, while the presence of highly skilled and professionally trained Nepali workers remains minimal.

Nepali nationals heading abroad at Tribhuvan International airport. RSS