Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MoFA] has begun diplomatic efforts to persuade Israel let Nepali workers work in Israel, a lucrative foreign employment destination [for] Nepali youths and women.

Israel government had barred Nepalis from working there nearly eight months ago, citing the malpractices that Nepali manpower agencies indulge in. Nearly 300 Nepali workers had got visas but were denied to go to Israel after the ban. Ministry of Labour and Transport made several efforts to persuade Israel to revoke the ban. Labour Minister Mohamad Aftab Alam went to Israel on 24 August, but failed in his endeavour to persuade Israel to undo its decision.

Arjun Dev Pant, under-secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Israel had put forth tIwo conditions to let Nepali workers work there. "They want the manpower to be sent either through International Organization of Migration or directly through the government," Pant said. They want to control fraudulent activities prevalent in the manpower sector, added Pant.

Israel has been insisting on tripartite agreements among the Israeli and the Nepali governments and IOM to send the Nepali manpower. Israel has offered such an arrangement to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well. "If we fail to seal a pact with Israel, it is likely to eye other countries," Pant cautioned.

However, there are many legal hassles to send Nepali workers through IOM, as Foreign Employment Act will have to be amended for that.
The government has even urged the Israeli government to find a middle path. It has proposed to set up a regulating mechanism to check the malpractices.

MoFA has sent a letter to Israel requesting to find a solution acceptable to both sides. Nepal may agree to send manpower at the government level through employment permit system, which is being used to send manpower to South Korea.

Published on: 8 January 2010 | The Himalayan Times