Madhav Kumar Nepal Pushes Nepal to Put Jobs First: “Stop Driving Workers Abroad”
Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal says Nepal must prioritize production, domestic employment, and policies that support businesses instead of pushing workers to leave the country.
Former Prime Minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal has urged the state to put domestic job creation at the center of economic policy, warning that too many Nepalis are being forced to seek work abroad because opportunities at home remain scarce.
Speaking at the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Nepal Gold and Silver Art Entrepreneurs Association in Kathmandu, Nepal said the government should focus on sectors that can generate employment inside the country and strengthen production-oriented industries rather than adopting measures that hurt businesses.
Why his message matters
Nepal’s comments tap into one of the country’s most persistent economic challenges: a shortage of decent jobs at home. He argued that when domestic opportunities are limited, people have little choice but to migrate abroad for work. That theme matches his broader push for creating employment within Nepal through stronger support for local industry and investment.
He has made similar remarks before, including calls to attract foreign investment so it can help expand jobs inside the country and statements stressing the need for home-based employment to support national development.
Business-friendly policy at the center of the debate
Beyond employment, Nepal warned against policy decisions that could damage entrepreneurs. His remarks suggest that economic reform should be designed not only to increase revenue or regulation, but also to protect the conditions that allow businesses to grow and hire.
For sectors like gold and silver craftsmanship, which rely on skilled labor, market stability, and a healthy business environment, that message is especially relevant. A stronger production base could help retain talent, support small enterprises, and reduce the pressure to migrate for work.
A broader economic signal
Nepal’s intervention reflects a larger political and economic conversation in Nepal about how to turn growth into jobs. The core argument is straightforward: if the state wants to slow outward migration, it must back industries that create work at home, encourage investment, and avoid policies that add unnecessary strain on employers.
In that sense, his remarks were not just a political statement, but a reminder that employment policy sits at the heart of Nepal’s economic future.