However, departures for Malaysia, one of the most popular labour destinations among Nepalis, has remained slow. According to Suresh Joshi, director at the Foreign Employment Office, Tahachal, the flow of Nepali workers to Malaysia has remained sluggish even after the ban was revoked. “Few workers are leaving for Malaysia although the office immediately started issuing labour permits to Malaysia-bound workers following the government decision,” Joshi told the Post. “The office is currently issuing around 100-200 labour permits for Malaysia every day.” Since the announcement, a total of 2,217 Nepalis—2,167 men and 50 women—have received labour permits from the Tahachal office under the Department of Foreign Employment. As one of the most preferred labour destinations before the government imposed the ban in May 2018 following a crackdown on illegal syndicates, more than 10,000 Nepalis reached to Malaysia every month. Following the action against the pre-departure service provider agencies, new labour permits for Malaysia were stopped. During the suspension period, labour permits were issued to those workers who were returning to their jobs and those holding a calling visa. Last fiscal year, only 42,146 Nepali workers left for work in Malaysia, showing a massive drop in the number of Nepalis taking up jobs in the South East Asian country.