Fact check: One of Nepals biggest exports are it's people, be it Gurkhas in the UK, Indian and Brunei armies and Singaporean police, domestic staff and yes, sex trafficking.

1. Summary of the results

The statement about Nepal's people being one of its biggest exports is partially supported by available data. Approximately 1.5 million Nepalis work abroad, primarily in the Middle East ^[1]. While foreign employment is indeed considered a respectable way to earn money in Nepal, many of these workers face exploitation and trafficking risks ^[2]. However, when looking at official export statistics, Nepal's primary exports are actually goods such as textiles, coffee, palm oil, soybean oil, and carpets, with total exports valued at $1.23 billion in 2023 ^{[3] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks crucial economic context:

• Nepal has significant legitimate goods exports and is actively working to diversify its export portfolio ^[5]
• The country faces broader trade challenges and deficits beyond labor migration ^[5]
• While foreign employment is common, many workers end up in vulnerable situations, particularly in:
• Construction industry
• Domestic work
• Entertainment industry
• Various sectors across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement contains several problematic elements:

• It oversimplifies a complex economic and social issue by presenting human migration primarily as an "export"
• While mentioning specific roles like Gurkhas in various forces, it fails to acknowledge that the vast majority of Nepali workers abroad are in construction and domestic work ^[1]
• The casual mention of "sex trafficking" alongside legitimate employment opportunities downplays the severity of human trafficking as a serious human rights violation
• The statement ignores Nepal's legitimate goods exports, which form a significant part of the country's economy ^{[3] [4]}

Those who benefit from this narrative include:

• Labor recruitment agencies and middlemen who profit from worker migration
• Industries in receiving countries that rely on potentially exploitable foreign labor
• Human trafficking networks that take advantage of established migration patterns