Dharma Raj Shahi of Humla hopped across the border to Taklakot in Tibet last year and earned Rs350,000 working as a labourer for three months, and this year too he is taking off for the Chinese market town hoping to make an equal amount of money.

“If I get any work there, the total income will be more than Rs100,000 per month,” he said. “Therefore, I go to Taklakot during the monsoon to work as a labourer.”

Shahi, who lives in Kharpunath Rural Municipality, is not the only youth from Humla to migrate annually to Taklakot for work. The Chinese town is an attractive employment destination for hundreds of youths of the district.

Around 1,000 youths have already left for Taklakot in search of work this year. Earlier, locals used to collect medicinal plants for their livelihood. After the forests were depleted of herbs, they resorted to seasonal migration to Taklakot for work.

High wages are the major reason why youths like to go to the Tibetan market to work. The money they make in Taklakot is enough to meet their expenses for the entire year. They earn 100 to 200 yuan per day working as a labourer.

Returning migrant workers also bring back household goods. According to Nepalis visiting the Tibetan market, a majority of them work as construction workers while some work as domestic labourers. The Chinese government has been encouraging locals to build houses by providing them a 100,000 yuan grant per household. A majority of the homeowners in Taklakot employ Humla locals as labourers. 

However, an increase in the supply of Nepali labourers in the Tibetan market has made it difficult to get jobs. According to Namgyal Tamang, a local businessman who recently visited Taklakot, many youths are struggling to find employment in the Tibetan town. “A large number of youths are going to Taklakot leading to a glut.”

As most Humla locals don’t possess citizenship certificates, their foreign employment options are limited, and they rely on the jobs they can get in Taklakot. However, a few youths from the southern parts go to India to work.