Nepali migrant workers who join Israeli jobs pay a service fee that is 10 times more than the service fee set by the government. A study by the Center for International Migration and Integration (CIMI) has revealed that workers from Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines pay between $ 6,900 (Rs 552,000) to $ 9,000 (Rs 720,000) for getting jobs in Israel.

“Outsourcing agencies are charging at least six times more money from workers,” the report said, adding that the excessive charge has forced workers to live in an illegal status to earn more money. Foreign workers working in the healthcare, construction and agriculture industries earn $ 900 (Rs 72,000) per month.

Based on more than 200 interviews with foreign workers, research shows that despite a government cap on the amount that manpower agencies are allowed to charge foreigners to secure the necessary permits, visas and work placements, many migrants end up paying thousands of dollars more.

Chinese outsourcing agencies are cheating workers more than agencies in other countries. Chinese workers pay up to $ 31,000 (Rs 2.48 million) to secure a job in the construction industry. The average rate is $ 27,000 (Rs 2.16 million) for Chinese workers.

Israel had banned Nepali caregivers in April 2009 when about 1,000 caregivers were found to be illegal. Department of Population had accused Nepali outsourcing agencies for the growing number of illegal migrant workers.

The ban was lifted in December when the Nepali government reduced the service fee to Rs 70,000, excluding air ticket. However, Nepali outsourcing agencies have not been successful in sending workers at the prescribed fee.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, only five Nepalis have reached the destination in the last four months and outsourcing agencies have demands for 186 workers — 130 caregivers and 56 agriculture workers.

Statistics included in the report show that there has been a sharp increase in the number of migrant workers coming to Israel. In 1993, foreigners accounted for only 1.6 per cent of the workforce in Israel but by 2010, that had increased to 10 per cent. The latest data from the Central Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2010 there were some 211,500 migrant workers in Israel, of which 116,500 were illegal.

Due to the high fees that workers pay to secure job placements, most of them were forced to borrow capital from friends or relatives, take out loans from official agencies, or even from the black market.

As a result of the high fees, researchers say that it could take up to a third of their entire stay in Israel –– most migrants are allowed to stay for five years –– to pay back the loans, meaning it is nearly a year and a half before they are able to make a profit.

During that time, workers have reported a deep feeling of insecurity and said they were not able to report any kind of injustice or human rights abuses meted out by their employers for fear of losing their jobs, the study found.

“The study demonstrates the necessity to regulate all aspects of migrant workers in Israel,” said director of CIMI Arnon Mantver. “An entire industry has developed here on the back of vulnerable populations.” Despite some steps taken in recent years by the government –– including agreements signed with Nepal, Thailand and Bulgaria to improve conditions for workers –– Mantver said more needs to be done.

Published on: 16 April 2012 | The Himalayan Times