ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses two aspects of Nepali migration. First, it analyses the emerging patterns of migration on the basis of census data on abroad and records of employment from the government of Nepal. Second, it analyses how migration studies have evolved and are conceptualised. There are major shifts in the patterns of migration in terms of direction, composition and forms of mobility. Despite a long history of international labour migration in Nepal, there is very little data on the magnitude of Nepalese nationals going out to neighbouring countries and abroad, let alone their engagement in various types of activities. Women participation in international migration is very small so far. The movement for labour recruitment, which had emerged as an important form of territorial mobility in eastern Nepal during the British Indian period has again become widespread. The government of Nepal formally adopted the promotion of foreign labour migration through the enactment of the Foreign Employment Act 2042.
