Nepal Resumes Middle East Work Permits

Nepal has resumed issuing work permits for its nationals to work in the Middle East, six weeks after suspending the procedure due to conflict in the region, specifically the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. This decision was prompted by advice from the foreign ministry and high demand from workers, as confirmed by Pitambar Ghimire, a labor ministry spokesperson. Remittances from Nepali workers abroad, particularly the 75% who work in the Middle East, constitute over a quarter of Nepal's $42-billion economy. The country faces a significant youth unemployment rate of 20.6%, the highest in South and Southeast Asia, according to the World Bank Group, driving approximately 1,500 young people daily to seek employment overseas.