Number of Nepali workers heading to Israel rising

KATHMANDU: The number of Nepalis heading to Israel for employment is rising.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, Israel issued visas for 190 workers in Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April). These workers have gradually started traveling to Israel.

Nepal suspended the processing of sending Nepali workers to Israel after 10 Nepali students, under the learn and earn program in Israel, died in a Hamas attack in October 2023. One student, Bipin Joshi, is still missing. The suspension lifted the suspesnion in June last year and sought applications from workers interested to work in Israel.

Of the total applicants, 2,112 were selectd via a lucky draw. Of them, 439 have alrady reached Israel, while 250 others are in the process of leaving, according to Giriraj Gyawali, the chief of Israel section of the DoFE.

These Nepalis work as caregiver in Israel under the government to government agreement.

According to officials, labor contract for 919 Nepalis will come by mid-May, while the ramining workers will get contract by mid-June.