Royal Nepalese
Embassy
Abu Dhabi
Manpower Recruitment from Nepal
The Anglo-Gurkha War in the early Nineteenth Century was a turning point in the history of the recruitment of the Nepalese workers abroad. Highly impressed by the bravery of the Nepalese fighters (Gurkha) during the battle in the Nepalese highlands which followed the Treaty of Sugauli with them, the British started recruiting Nepalese youths in their separate battalion called the Gurkha Ballalion. As part of the British Force in the First and Second World Wars, the Nepalese soldiers fought with gallantry in the battlefields. They were better known for their integrity, loyalty, honesty, and dedication and hard working. Then tripartite agreement between the Governments of Britain, India and Nepal in 1947 after the Independence of India opened the door for the recruitment of Nepalese youths in the British and Indian Armies.
The time and the situation have changed now due to the efforts and investment of
the Government in the education sector that the recruitment of the Nepalese no
more need to be restricted to the army. The production of the educated and
skilled as well as the semi-educated and semiskilled mass is growing after the
advent of education and training who have joined the work force willing to go
abroad. Besides, every year a large number of illiterate as well as
semi-literate youths also join the work force seeking job opportunities in
foreign countries.
Realizing the imperatives of the foreign employment in the economic growth of the country, His Majesty's Government of Nepal introduced Foreign Employment Act in 1985 and joined the employment market by sending its surplus manpower abroad for employment. But in reality the outflow of the Nepalese workers from the country in considerable number started after 1990. Professionally educated and talented work force is attracted towards the west for their career development and economic gains whereas vocationally skilled, semi skilled and unskilled workers are finding their opportunities in the Middle East particularly in the Gulf countries.
The Gulf countries initially were unaware of the Nepalese manpower. The British companies started recruiting Nepalese workers in Bahrain in mid 1980s in a small number. The employers of the Gulf countries were reluctant to recruit Nepalese workers because of the doubt they had that the Nepalese may not be able to work in the scorching heat and desert environment. The Nepalese accustomed to hard work proved that they were able to undertake any kind of job and under any circumstances. Thousands of Nepalese construction workers, unskilled, semi skilled, skilled and professionals like accountants, managers, engineers are now working in many countries in the Gulf region. The United Arab Emirates is one of the major countries where a large number of Nepalese nationals are working at present.
Categories of manpower available in Nepal:
The categories of manpower available in Nepal are broadly classified into
four groups:
· Professional
· Skilled Technicians
· Semi-skilled
· Unskilled
Professional categories:
· Managers
· Engineers of different streams; like computer, civil, electrical, mechanical and chemical etc.
· Medical Doctors/Dental Surgeons/Pharmacists
· Scientists in various fields
· Professors/ Teachers in various discipline
· Chartered / Cost Accountants
· Geologists/ Soil specialist /Surveyors
· Architects/ Planners
· Banking specialists
· Travel and Tour operators
· Accountants
Skilled Technicians:
· Diploma Engineers
· Diploma Pharmacists, Health Assistants
· Nurses
· Laboratory technicians
· Medical assistants
· Paramedics
· Foreman, Electrical, Mechanical, civil etc.
· Construction supervisors
· Quality Surveyors
· Welders
· Carpenters
· Building Painters, Spray Painters
· Steel fixers
· Masons
· Tile fixers and Plasterers
· Plumbers
· Pipe fitters
· Steel Fabricators
· Drivers- Heavy and Light
· Draftsmen
· Chefs
· Waiters, Cooks and Bakers
· Security Guards
· Operators: Machine, Laundry, Shovel, Bulldozer, Power tailor, Computers
· Gold Smiths
Semi skilled:
· Electrical Helpers
· Mechanical helpers
· Scaffolders
· Glass cutters
· Mason helpers
· Washer men
· Pressmen
· Office Assistants
· Waiters
· Assistant cooks
· Kitchen helpers
· Barbers
· Gardeners
· Shop assistants and storekeepers
· Salesmen: Timekeepers, Office boy etc.
Unskilled:
· Construction workers
· Cleaners
· Watch men/ Guards
· Agricultural labourers
· Industrial labourers
· Office boys
· Room Boys
Why to recruit from Nepal:
The experience gained over the years in the foreign employment, it has been seen that many countries have shown their interests in recruiting the Nepalese skilled, semiskilled and unskilled manpower because of the following reasons:-
· Nepalese workers are well known for their hard work, dedication and loyalty;
· The employers could get the advantage of wider choices;
· Every categories of manpower are readily available;
· Formalities and procedures for the recruitment are simple and quick;
· Nepalese workers are comparatively cost effective and their hiring cost is lower as compared to other labour exporting countries;
· Nepalese workers are experienced in working in the extreme climatic conditions; and
· Nepal is situated very close to the labour importing countries and is linked by air with these countries.
How to recruit from Nepal:
All the interested foreign employers have to recruit through the licensed
agencies registered under the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion, His
Majesty's Government of Nepal. These agents make direct contact and negotiate
with the overseas employers for procuring manpower requirements. On receipt of
any authenticated vacancy demand from the overseas employer, the licensed agent
gets the relevant documents attested by the concerned Royal Nepalese Embassy and
then applies to the Director General of Labour and Employment Promotion
Department for the recruitment permission. The Labour Department is the
principal Government authority which supervises and monitors the recruitment
process of the recruitment agencies and provides permission to export the
manpower. The licensed agents should apply in the Department with the following
documents for the recruitment permission.
· A copy of Power of Attorney issued by the foreign employer in favour of the recruiting agent to act on his behalf
· A copy of Demand Letter from the employer containing details of the vacancies
·
A copy of the employment contract or service agreement
How to recruit women workers from Nepal?
Authentication of the documents:
The above mentioned documents "Demand Letter, Power of Attorney, Agreement
between the two agencies concerned and Service Contract" should be authenticated
from the Labour Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of the concerned country. The Royal Nepalese Embassy
authenticates the documents on the presentation of approval of the labour
authorities in the relevant country, attestation by the Chamber of Commerce or
any competent authority and if necessary, after the visit of the employer's
office and labour camp, if it deems to do so. If the Demand Letter is placed
through the local recruitment agent, the Royal Nepalese Embassy may ask the
agents to produce the service agreement between the employer and the recruitment
agents.