Nepal resumes issuing permits for workers headed to Middle East

Representational photo: A Nepali army soldier walks in front of the Parliament house which was set on fire by the protesters, following Monday's killing of 19 people after anti-corruption protests that were triggered by a social media ban, which was later lifted, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept 10, 2025. REUTERS

Nepal has resumed issuing permits for its nationals to work in the Middle East, an official said on Tuesday, six weeks after suspending the procedure because of conflict in the region.

About 75% of all Nepali workers abroad work in Middle East nations, mainly as labourers at building sites, and experts say remittances from workers make up more than a quarter of the $42-billion economy of the cash-strapped Himalayan nation.

Permit resumption "follows advice from the foreign ministry and high demand from workers", Pitambar Ghimire, a labour ministry spokesperson, told Reuters.

Nepal requires citizens to secure a work permit from the government in order to take up jobs in a foreign country, but suspended their issue for Gulf countries on Mar 1, a day after the US-Israeli war on Iran began.

Nepal's youth unemployment stands at 20.6% among a population of 30 million for the highest such figure among all South and Southeast Asian countries, World Bank data shows.

At least 3 million nationals work overseas, industry officials say. Labour unions estimate that about 1,500 young people leave Nepal each day for foreign employment, driven by scarce job opportunities at home.