Kathmandu, Nov. 8 -- Migration of Nepali workers to Malaysia, which resumed in September after a gap of several months, is staring at headwinds, with an increasing number of local workers lining up for pre-departure services without getting the preliminary labour permits from the government.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, more than 100,000 Malaysia-bound Nepali workers have already completed their medical tests, commonly known as Biometric and Immigration Security Clearance, but the number of workers who have got the preliminary work approval is only about 5,000.

"We have received information from various sources that tens of thousands of Nepali migrant workers have lined up for their medical examination and security...