A total of 14 Nepali caregivers will be heading to Israel by mid-April in the first phase under the government-to-government deal, the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) said.

According to the department, 60 caregivers selected for the job in Israel have completed all pre-departure requirements, including health check-up and training.

The caregivers had recently completed the final training from an Israeli agency at the Sahara Care Centre in Bhaktapur. Those selected

for the job include 49 women and 11 men between the age of 25 to 45. They were selected from a list of 139 applicants who met the requirements related to education, training, age and height. They had also taken a language test.

These caregivers will be the first lot of workers to go to Israel through a government-to-government channel since the host country stopped hiring Nepalis through recruitment agencies in April 2009.

Under the new initiative, aspiring workers will have to pay a maximum of Rs100,000 in expenses, including air ticket, health examination, insurance and welfare fund contribution. Israel is a popular job destination for Nepali women due to lucrative pay, safe working environment and low recruitment cost. A Nepali caregiver in Israel earns at least Rs100,000 each month.

Korean language test slated for June

The Korea Employment Permit System (EPS) in Nepal has announced to conduct the Korean Language Test on June 18 and 19. It is mandatory for candidates to pass the language test to be eligible for jobs in South Korea. Successful candidates will be enlisted in the roster to be picked by prospective employers.

Dili Ram Bastola, chief of the EPS section under the Department of Foreign Employment, said the South Korean Human Resource Department has decided to hold an early test this year. Earlier, the language test used to coincide with big festivals like Dashain and Tihar, causing huge difficulties for the candidates.

Bastola said that the EPS division has decided to receive applications from April 27-30. The application collection centres will be set up in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, Janakpur, Dadeldhura and Butwal. “Our initial plan was to collect applications online but it is not possible to do so this year. We have decided to set up additional exam centres in Pokhara,” said Bastola.

Now on, youths will also have to undergo screening for tuberculosis to qualify for Korean jobs. Applicants will require passport to apply for the exam.

South Korea is considered an affordable and lucrative destination for Nepali migrant workers where one can earn up to $1,000 monthly.

Although Korea only offers unskilled jobs in manufacturing, agriculture and livestock sectors, many skilled people also apply for the jobs due to the high pay. Under the EPS, South Korea has been recruiting workers from 14 countries  besides Nepal. South Korea attaches priority to Nepali workers due to their good track record and increasing popularity among the employers. The HRD has yet to announce the job quotas for 2016.