As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Tuesday finalised a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety—and if necessary, the evacuation—of Nepali workers in the Middle East.

At an emergency meeting chaired by Krishna Hari Pushkar, labour secretary, officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, home, tourism, law, and parliamentary committees convened to assess risks and outline response strategies. The government resolved to deploy all available state mechanisms and resources to safeguard the estimated 5,500 Nepali workers in Israel and at least a dozen in Iran.

“The government is fully prepared to ensure the safety of Nepali migrant workers,” said Pushkar. “We will mobilise all necessary support, regardless of how the situation unfolds.”

Among the key decisions was a directive to initiate diplomatic communication with third countries, such as Egypt, which borders Israel, and nations accessible by land from Iran, to facilitate visa arrangements should Nepalis seek to transit through these territories to return home. Pushkar also stated that Nepal would formally request India and China to include Nepali nationals in any evacuation efforts they undertake for their own citizens in the region.

The government will also issue a travel advisory discouraging non-essential travel to the Middle East and request recruitment agencies to withhold deployment of newly approved workers to high-risk zones. In cases where airline tickets have already been issued, the Ministry of Tourism will urge airlines to waive rescheduling fees.

To provide mental health support, the Foreign Employment Board and the Social Security Fund have been instructed to begin offering counselling services to affected workers from Tuesday onwards.

These developments come amid growing concern about the vulnerability of Nepali migrant workers caught in the Israel-Iran crossfire. Most Nepalis in Israel are employed in the caregiving and agricultural sectors, often living in accommodations equipped with bunkers. Those without such facilities rely on public shelters during missile alerts.

Although no large-scale evacuation has been initiated, officials say the infrastructure is now in place to act swiftly should the situation deteriorate. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all known Nepali nationals in both countries are safe and in contact with embassies.

Nepal’s ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, said on Monday that although the situation is tense, most Nepali workers have adapted to emergency protocols and are taking the necessary precautions.

Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has been in constant communication with Nepali envoys in Tel Aviv and Doha to monitor developments and ensure the government is ready to respond. The Nepali embassy in Doha, Qatar also oversees Nepal’s diplomatic affairs with Iran.

As the region remains on edge, Nepal’s multi-agency approach signals a readiness to act decisively to protect its citizens abroad.