KATHMANDU, May 15: Every day, thousands of young Nepalis leave the country for foreign employment carrying dreams of improving their family’s financial condition, providing a better life to their loved ones, and securing a brighter future.
But for many, the pursuit of those dreams abroad has turned not into an opportunity for prosperity, but into the final journey of their lives. As increasing numbers of migrant workers return home in coffins, the reality of foreign employment has become even more painful.
The number of deaths among Nepalis working abroad has been steadily rising. According to data from the Foreign Employment Board (FEB), 1,273 Nepalis who had traveled to various countries for foreign employment lost their lives in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2082/83 (mid-July to May 11). Among them were 44 women.
The FEB’s statistics show that both men and women who left the country hoping to improve their families’ economic conditions ended up dying prematurely abroad. The figures include only those who had obtained labor approval and whose families were eligible for compensation from the board.
If deaths of undocumented workers or those who failed to renew their labor permits were also included, the number would certainly be even more alarming. However, the government does not have accurate data on them. Officials at the board say that, on average, the bodies of four Nepalis arrive home in coffins every day.
According to Bhupendra Sapkota, director at the Foreign Employment Board, the increasing death toll is largely linked to the growing number of workers leaving the country. He said several other factors have also contributed to making the lives of Nepali migrant workers increasingly unsafe.
“As the number of people going abroad rises, it is natural for the number of deaths to increase by some percentage as well,” he said. “Although the figures have gone up, the increase is not abnormal in percentage terms.”
He identified unsafe working conditions, lack of proper health screenings, mental stress, excessive workloads, inadequate rest, and in some cases suicide as major causes behind the rising mortality rate. He also said the trend of going abroad without training or skills has increased the risks faced by workers.
Two youths of same village return home in coffins
Pressure from debt, separation from family, workplace exploitation, and language barriers have seriously affected the mental health of Nepalis abroad. There have also been numerous cases in which workers lost their lives because they did not receive timely treatment when ill or because employers ignored their health conditions.
According to Sapkota, around 1,500 Nepalis died while employed abroad during the last fiscal year, while 1,273 have already died so far in the current fiscal year. Looking at the remaining months, officials estimate that the figure could reach a level similar to last year’s total.
In fiscal year 2024/25 alone, 1,517 Nepali youths lost their lives in foreign countries. The number has been increasing steadily over the years. According to FEB data, 1,378 migrant workers died in fiscal year 2023/24, while 1,208 died in 2022/23.
The board states that the leading causes of death include road accidents, workplace accidents, heart disease, cardiac arrest, kidney failure, cancer, and suicide.
Among Nepalis working particularly in Gulf countries and Malaysia, deaths occurring during sleep—often linked to cardiac arrest or natural causes—as well as kidney-related illnesses have been reported more frequently.
Sapkota said that in the past, not all families of deceased workers came to the Foreign Employment Board to claim compensation, but increased awareness and publicity have now encouraged more families to file claims.
“Previously, not every incident may have reached the board. Now, because awareness has increased, more families are coming forward for compensation claims, which has also made the statistics appear higher,” he said.
Gulf nations and Malaysia remain the primary destinations for Nepali youth seeking employment abroad. Sapkota said harsh temperatures, risky workplaces, and long working hours have exposed many workers to severe health problems.
“When workers are employed in unsafe conditions, they become vulnerable to various diseases, cardiac arrest, and kidney failure,” he told Republica.
Cases in which workers who had undergone medical screening before departure died suddenly abroad have also raised concerns. Sapkota said traveling through unsafe channels or without proper labor agreements was another contributing factor.
“When people travel through unsafe methods without labor agreements, such problems arise. That is why workers should always go through proper labor contracts and safe procedures,” he said.
He added that the government has been conducting various awareness programs aimed at reducing the death rate among migrant workers. According to him, workers are provided with pre-departure orientation training, awareness campaigns are conducted through airports and social media, and informational materials are distributed for Nepalis living abroad as well.
“Our main focus is awareness and outreach,” he said.
According to the board, families of deceased workers are entitled to financial assistance of up to Rs 1 million. Families no longer need to visit the board office in person, as applications can now be submitted through local employment service centers.
Sapkota said postmortem reports are requested from the respective countries to determine the actual causes of death among Nepali workers abroad.
“Postmortem reports are sent from abroad, and the cause of death is confirmed on the basis of those reports,” he said.
Board officials also said that the growing trend of traveling through middlemen or third countries to reach risky destinations has further complicated the issue. The board has been providing financial support to the families of migrant workers who die or become disabled while employed abroad.
To receive compensation, workers must have obtained labor approval, and applications must be filed within one year of the incident. Since last year, the compensation amount provided to families of workers who die abroad after obtaining labor approval has been increased from Rs 700,000 to Rs 1 million.
Experts have advised workers to obtain vocational training, understand the weather, laws, and risks of destination countries, and complete all legal procedures before traveling abroad.
According to labor and migration expert Rameshwor Nepal, the government must strictly implement labor agreements with destination countries in order to make foreign employment safer.
He also stressed the need to strengthen health screenings for workers and establish an effective monitoring system to track their condition after they reach foreign countries.
Due to the lack of adequate employment opportunities within Nepal, millions of Nepali youths continue to choose foreign employment out of compulsion.
But as young people who leave the country dreaming of better earnings continue to return home in coffins, it has become increasingly clear that stronger and more effective measures are needed to make foreign employment safer.
