The government of Israel has shown positive intent towards receiving more Nepali migrant workers as caregivers from this year.
Officials from Israel Embassy in Kathmandu hinted the Middle Eastern country might accept 500 new caregivers from Nepal in 2018 during a meeting with officials from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE).
DoFE Spokesperson Mohan Adhikari said the meeting with Israel Embassy was fruitful.
“Israeli officials said they would release a demand for 500 Nepali workers for the year 2018. This means more Nepalis would clinch jobs in Israel which is one of the most sought after foreign employment destinations among Nepalis,” said Adhikari.
Israeli officials have put forth some conditions before allocating the proposed number of jobs for Nepalis in the Jewish state.
They told Nepali officials to upgrade caregivers’ training and curriculum. This is mandatory for prospective job seekers in Israel. They also sought revision of the existing service charges workers pay before securing employment in Israel.
“They suggested upgrading the curriculum of the training provided by centres that we shall oversee. We cannot assure Israeli officials about revising service charges since the government deals with such matters,” said Adhikari.
If allocated as per the first round of discussion, the Israeli government would receive the largest number of Nepali workers in the last nine years.
Israel stopped hiring Nepali caregivers through recruitment agencies in April 2009. They cited huge irregularities in the recruitment system and exploitation of migrant workers by recruiting agencies.
Hiring of Nepali caregivers resumed after both countries adopted the Government-to-Government (G2G) recruitment system in August 2009.
As per the agreement, Nepali caregivers would not pay more than Rs65,000 for a job in Israel. During the pilot-phase of the system, Israel would receive 300 Nepali caregivers.
According to Adhikari, prospective migrant workers will not have to pay for any other service except the mandatory medical examination, employment application fee, police report, insurance, welfare fund and operating cost.
The flow of Nepali workers into the Jewish state has been slow with less than 100 Nepalis working there.
Israel recruits 60 Nepalis every year. In 2017, only 27 from those selected reached Israel, said Adhikari.
Prospective candidates seeking jobs in Israel have to pass a screening process. It includes a test in English language, training programme, and a personal interview. The DoFE conducts the hiring process.
“The Israeli Migration Authority (PIBA) randomly selects candidates from the pool of the qualified workers after they submit the required documents. They shortlist 100 qualified workers from the pool to participate in the selection process which is a written test. From these, they select 60,” said Adhikari.
During the meeting, Nepali officials suggested a review of the selection process, following complaints from some Nepali workers unhappy with the current selection process.
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