KATHMANDU – Nepal resumed issuing labor permits for Middle East jobs, six weeks after halting them due to regional conflict, as officials cite foreign ministry guidance and surging worker demand in a nation where remittances fuel over a quarter of its $42 billion economy.
Labour Ministry spokesperson Pitambar Ghimire told media, the move addresses pleas from citizens eyeing construction roles, where 75% of Nepal’s three million overseas workers toil. Permits, mandatory for foreign employment, were paused March 1,one day into the U.S.-Israeli-Iran war,stranding youth facing South Asia’s highest unemployment at 20.6% among 30 million people, per World Bank data.
Unions report 1,500 daily departures for abroad gigs, driven by domestic scarcity. Remittances stabilize payments, cover trade gaps, and underpin macroeconomic resilience despite vulnerabilities. The restart signals cautious optimism amid Gulf perils, prioritizing economic survival over prolonged bans.