The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) has forwarded a proposal to the cabinet seeking introduction government to government (G2G) system for recruitment of Nepali care-givers in Israel, ending the role of private sector in the process.

The ministry´s move comes after Israeli officials agreed to introduce the system of recruiting care givers through joint participation of the governments of both the countries. 

Suresh Man Shrestha, secretary at MoLE told Republica on Saturday that the proposal envisages sending 300 caregivers under a pilot program with involvement of Nepal´s Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) and Israel´s Population Immigration Authority of Israel.

“We will formally request Israel to introduce the process of sending workers through G2G process once the cabinet endorses the proposal,” added Shrestha. A Nepali delegation led by Shrestha had recently suggested to Israeli officials to introduce the new system. 

During the meeting, Israeli officials had voiced serious concern over malpractices in the recruitment of Nepali caregivers. Israel had stopped issuing fresh visas to Nepali job aspirants from 2010 following reports of irregularities and exorbitant fee charged to aspirants by manpower agencies.

In a latest attempt to resume the process of recruiting caregivers in Israel, Nepal had offered an option of getting the governments of both Israel and Nepal involved in the recruitment process.

Around 7,000 Nepali caregivers have reached through manpower agencies to Israel, which is the most lucrative destination for caregivers. According to Shrestha, caregivers recruited through government´s involvement in the process can work in Israel for four years and three months. Similarly, female job-seekers who have passed SLC and are aged between 25-45 years are eligible to apply for the caregiver´s job.

Shrestha said DoFE, MoLE, Israeli embassy in Nepal and representatives of the Israeli government will be involved in short-listing the applicants. 

“Then a list of shortlisted candidates will be sent to Israel before the aspirants get job offers from employers,” said Shrestha.

Published on: 10 March 2013 | Republica