KATHMANDU, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The number of Nepali migrant workers going to Qatar has gone down after the tiny Gulf nation faced diplomatic stand-off and economic embargo from other Gulf nations led by Saudi Arabia.
Taking permit from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), a government agency, is essential for Nepalis going to abroad to work. Qatar is one of the key destinations for Nepali migrant workers.
According to the DoFE, average number of migrant workers seeking permit to go to Qatar has declined but not significantly.
"The number of permit issuance has gone down to average 150-300 a day since Qatar crisis began last week from 300-400 a day before," Mohan Adhikari, information officer at the DoFE, told Xinhua, adding "not only the crisis in Qatar, ongoing Ramadan being observed in the Muslim world also might have contributed to decline workers' demands."
Qatar hosts an estimated 400,000 Nepali migrant workers. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were the three countries which hosted the largest number of Nepali migrant workers in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
