Israel – the most preferred destination for Nepali women – lately has been demanding less Nepali caregivers than it was expected to. Around 100 Nepali women migrant workers have reached the destination in last two months following the reopening of the destination in November 2011.

Israel had closed job market to Nepali women migrant workers in April 2009 as over 1,000 caregivers were found illegal. Israel had blamed Nepali outsourcing agencies for the illegal migrant workers as they used to charge around Rs 600,000 to Rs 800,000 for the caregiver job that offer Rs 35,000 in a month.

The government and outsourcing agencies expect to send around 500 caregivers per month from November last year. “Outsourcing agencies are not getting sufficient demands from Israel due to service fee dispute,“ said general secretary of Foreign Employment Association Nepal, Prakash Karki.

The dispute between the outsourcers and Ministry of Labour and Transport Management has also hit the demand, he said, adding that the agencies will not be active in the business unless the ministry revises service fee structure.

The service fee should be justifiable and respect practices in market, according to them. “Low service fee fixed by the ministry has emerged as obstacle to send caregivers to Israel.”

Nepali outsourcing agencies have to pay at least $1,500 (Rs 123,000) to Israeli agents for a demand but the government service fee is just Rs 75,000, he said, adding that not a single outsourcing agency could send could send caregivers in Rs 75,000.

Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has officially rejected the service fee in December saying that it is not sufficient to send caregivers in the destination.

“As Israeli agencies have been charging commission up to $1,500 (Rs 123,000), it is not possible to send Nepali women migrant workers in the government fee”, it read.

However, the government agencies believed that demands from Israel will increase after a couple of months. “Currently, outsourcing agencies are marketing in Israel after the interval of two and half year”, director at Department of Foreign Employment Kashiraj Dahal said, adding that it will take time to get demands.

Israel is a lucrative destination for Nepali women migrant workers where a caregiver can earn around $1,200 (Rs 100,000) per month.

Currently, about 2,500 Nepali women migrant workers are believed to be working in the destination. They have landed there before April 2009.

Published on: 16 January 2012 | The Himalayan Times