“I had tears in my eyes but I just left without looking back”. A qualitative study of migration-related stressors amongst Nepali male labour migrants

Labour migration has become a crucial livelihood strategy in settings where employment options are limited. Such opportunities come with potential benefits but also introduce stressors. This study explores migration-related stressors amongst returnee male Nepali international labour migrants. We conducted qualitative Kathmandu 42 explored decisions, processes, experiences destination and on return. The participants worked low- semi-skilled jobs Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Men reported representing five broad areas: workplace/employer, family, recruitment, environment legal. Most belonged to the workplace/employer category such as exploitative practices of document confiscation, contract discrepancies poor working conditions. Family were often due disagreements about whether migrate, once destination, being absent during illness death family. Recruitment linked process costs. Environmental included over-crowdedness hygiene, security at accommodation wider town. Legal related lack documentation, negative encounters local police. Multiple experienced simultaneously or succession. Male migrants from Nepal who had various countries job-sectors multiple types stress. majority belong workplace category, may have limited power challenge problems their employers. cumulative effect negatively impact migrants’ wellbeing. Future research should explore ability cope many encountered.