The government must take strong diplomatic action to open the job market, said Prakash Karki, an outsourcer engaged in sending Nepali caregivers since 1997. “Without diplomatic effort and assurance of full-fledged implementation of service fee and its directives, Israel will not open its market again,” he said. 

 

Israel reopened its job market in December after the Nepali government fixed the service fee and assured to abide by the directives. However, it stopped issuing work visas after issuing 100 visas in December-January. The job market was closed for Nepali caregivers between April 2009 and November 2011. 

 

Karki accused the government for being negligent about a lucrative destination. “Earnings in Israel are six times more than in Gulf countries but the government is not serious,” he said. Nepali caregivers are earning around $ 1,200 (Rs 98,400) with boarding facility, while workers in the Gulf earn around $ 180 (Rs 14,760). 

 

According to Karki, Israel should open its job market under equal terms and conditions that it applies to Indians, Sri Lankans and Filipinos. Outsourcers are ready to send workers under the conditions, therefore the government must lobby for it, he added. Indians, Sri Lankans and Filipinos have been sending their workers at the government prescribed price after the directives. 

 

President of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Israel Subash Kharel said that diplomatic efforts could open the job market. “If the country shows commitment towards fighting fraud, the Israeli government will open its job market soon,” he said, adding that following the application procedure required for Indian, Sri Lankan and Filipino workers could also be an option to open the Israeli job market. 

 

The number of Nepalis working in Israel has come down to 2,000 from 12,000 in the last three years. According to NRNA Israel, the government must talk to the Israeli government to provide safe jobs to Nepali women. “The Israeli job market is safe, so we should not lose it,” he said. Around 80 per cent Nepalis working in Israel are women while 20 per cent men are involved in agricultural jobs.