Nepal Restarts Middle East Work Permits
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- Nepal resumed issuing work permits for Middle East jobs on April 21, six weeks after a March 1 suspension triggered by the US‑Israeli war with Iran.
- Middle East labor hosts about 75% of Nepali overseas workers, whose remittances exceed a quarter of Nepal’s $42 billion economy.
- Strait of Hormuz reopened on April 18 after a brief closure, underscoring the volatile backdrop for Nepal’s labor migration amid ongoing Israel‑Hezbollah tensions.
Why it matters: Nepal’s government and its 1,500 daily migrant workers gain access to Middle East jobs, boosting remittances that fund >$10 billion of the economy, while Gulf employers secure needed labor amid regional disruptions.
