"Survey: High Recruitment Costs Burden Nepali Workers", 13 July 2026

Labour migration has long been a lifeline for Nepali families, creating employment opportunities, boosting household incomes and contributing significantly to the country's economy. However, many migrant workers incur substantial debt before securing employment abroad, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) of Nepal, with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), conducted the first-ever national survey on the recruitment fees and related costs incurred by migrant workers. The findings are presented in the report, The Cost of Labour Migration in Nepal: Evidence from the 2023 Recruitment Cost Survey of Migrant Workers...

Migrant workers building a skyscraper in Dubai, illustrating the essential role of migrant workers and the importance of promoting decent work and protecting their rights.

The report finds that high recruitment fees and related costs continue to place a significant financial burden on migrant workers, leaving many vulnerable to debt and exploitation...

… The survey found that while around one-third of migrant workers reported paying no recruitment fees, nearly two-thirds incurred recruitment-related costs before securing employment abroad. On average, migrant workers required 3.3 months of earnings to recover their recruitment costs, while women faced a greater financial burden, requiring around four and a half months of earnings. Workers recruited through unregistered brokers experienced the highest recruitment costs, highlighting the risks associated with informal recruitment channels…

The survey also found that recruitment costs and earnings varied across destinations, sectors and occupations. Workers employed in the services sector and those in higher-skilled occupations generally earned more than those working in agriculture, industry and lower-skilled jobs, reinforcing the strong link between skills and earnings. Women incurred higher recruitment costs on average than men, although the typical (median) cost paid by women was lower, indicating greater variation in the costs borne by female migrant workers…