Europe emerges as major destination for Nepali workers as Gulf uncertainties grow
Summary
Nepali workers are increasingly choosing Europe as a destination for employment, with countries like Romania and Cyprus seeing a rise in labour approvals amid growing uncertainties in Gulf markets. While Europe offers long-term stability and family reunification prospects, Nepali migrants face challenges such as exploitation, illegal recruitment, and restrictive government policies.
Key Points
- Europe has become a major destination for Nepali migrant workers, accounting for 14.7% of outbound labour approvals in fiscal year 2025-26.
- Romania is the largest European destination for Nepali workers, attracting nearly half of those migrating to Europe.
- The European labour market is experiencing structural workforce shortages across 2,617 occupations, increasing demand for migrant labour.
- Nepali workers migrating to Europe face exploitation and illegal recruitment due to restrictive government policies barring institutional recruitment for Europe.
