KATHMANDU, Feb 14: The first group of 1,000 Nepali auxiliary workers in Israel’s caregiver sector is set to depart soon. The visa process for the first 100 workers has already been completed, while the remaining candidates are progressing accordingly.
A total of 2,112 candidates, including 956 males, were selected through a transparent live lottery process conducted in August 2024 at the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) office in Jerusalem, Israel. The remaining 1,112 workers will depart once the first batch has completed its process.
These workers will be employed in long-term care facilities, including geriatric homes and elderly care centers in Israel, under the Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement signed between Nepal and Israel in 2020.
Graduation ceremony concluded
Nepal and Israel signed a Framework Agreement on the “Temporary Employment of Nepali Workers in Specific Labor Market Sectors in the State of Israel - Auxiliary Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities” on September 30, 2020, followed by an implementation protocol on January 21, 2021. Currently, 1,345 Nepali auxiliary workers are already employed in Israel under this arrangement.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people, including 10 Nepali students. Another Nepali student, Bipin Joshi, remains in Hamas captivity after being abducted. Following the attack, Nepal repatriated some stranded citizens and suspended sending agriculture students to Israel under the Learn and Earn scheme, which had placed Joshi and others there. Although the government had temporarily halted sending Nepali workers to Israel, it has now decided to resume deployments following the latest ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu has congratulated the first batch of Nepali auxiliary workers and wished them success in their new roles. “We believe that the care, effort, and friendship they will extend to care-receivers in Israel, along with Israel’s affinity and cooperation, will further strengthen the existing Nepal-Israel friendship,” the embassy stated in a press release.
The Israeli Embassy also expressed appreciation to Nepal’s Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, along with the Department of Foreign Employment, for their continued cooperation.
