Nepalis can go to Israel from next month

 The Israeli labour market has been opened for Nepali youth as Nepal and Israel today signed 'Implementation Protocol' of agreement.

“Nepali migrant workers can go to Israel as an 'Implementation Protocol' has been signed between Nepal and Israel today for the implementation of the agreement related to temporary employment of Nepali workers in the labour market of Israel,” according to a press note issued by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

Nepali ambassador to Israel Dr Anjan Shakya and Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gabi Ashkenazi had signed the labour pact five months ago on September 30, 2020.  

The protocol was today signed by the director general of the Department of Foreign Employment Kumar Dahal and Israeli ambassador to Nepal Hanan Godar – on behalf of their respective governments – at a programme organised at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

Expressing belief that diplomatic as well as labour relations between the two countries will be even more cordial in the days to come, labour minister Gauri Shankar Chaudhary said that a new dimension has been added to the bilateral relations between Nepal and Israel with the signing of the protocol.

He also urged the Israeli government to provide opportunities of employment to Nepali youths in other sectors except in caregiver sector.

Likewise, Dahal – after siging the protocol – said that the department will maintain transparency in the process of filling online applications for the implementation of the protocol. Nepali envoy to Israel Dr Anjan Shakya – who was presented virtually on the occasion – said that she was actively involved in opening the labour market of Israel to Nepalis since she reached Israel as the Nepali ambassador.

In the first phase, some 500 Nepalis will be able to go Israel – one of the most lucrative labour destinations – for caregiver job after signing of the protocol, the ministry explained, adding that Nepali youths will get employment as caregivers as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and daycare centers. “They will get perks and benefits according to the laboor related laws of Israel.”

According to the agreement, the Nepali youths will go for employment to Israel through government to government (G2G) arrangements of both countries, and the private sector will not be involved. 

Though, the ministry claimed that the employment in Israel has been made systematic and transparent as much as possible as the government is sending skilled and capable workers to Israel, the private sector still doubts. 

There are some 2,500 Nepalis in Israel currently, according to Nepali Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israeli, Japan embassies help Gandharva Community

 Israeli and Japan embassies in Kathmandu are jointly providing emergency food assistance to the underprivileged Gandharva Community around Kathmandu and Pokhara through collaboration with a Japanese International NGO, Japan International Support Programme (JISP).

With the financial contribution from the government of Israel, JISP is providing a vital good assistance to approximately 1,000 most vulnerable Gandharva people during the most auspicious festivals of Dashain and Tihar, reads a press note issued by the embassy in Kathmandu. “The goods include basic food items such as rice, lentils, oil and vegetables,” it reads, adding that soap bars and masks are provided at this challenging time of Covid-19. “The Gandharva communities located in Kathmandu were donated goods today and the goods will be sent for the community in Pokhara soon.”

Expressing happiness to be able to contribute to the Gandharva Musician’s Community of Nepal, ambassador of Israel to Nepal Benny Omer said, “In these difficult times of Covid-19 Pandemic, we are happy to be able to assist vital humanitarian needs to the wonderful community in Nepal. Wishing you all Happy and Peaceful Dashain and Tihar.”

“It is our priority to deliver basic food package to the vulnerable people as soon as possible, as the Nepali people are entering into one of the most festive seasons, Dashain and Tihar, in the midst of the serious challenges they are experiencing due to the influence of Covid-19,” representative director of JISP Mayumi Yoshida said, adding that they are working with some of the best traditional musicians of Nepal to fundraise for the most vulnerable.

This is the first collaboration between the Embassy of Israel and the Japanese International NGO. The Gandharvas of Nepal are keepers of one of the world's great musical traditions, a tradition recognised by UNESCO as Intangible World Heritage. For centuries, they have been the musicians of Nepal. Gandharvas depend on tourism for much of their livelihood and income. Their primary source of income is often building Sarangis which they sell to tourists in Kathmandu.  However, due to the on-going Covid-19 crisis, tourists are no longer freely coming in and out of Nepal, and many of the Gandharvas, especially of the villages, have lost their ways of making a living.

Israel gifts medical supplies to support fight against Covid -19

Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Benny Omer today handed over medical supplies to the Health and Population Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, at the premises of the Health Ministry, to support Nepal's fight to contain Covid-19.
According to a press note issued by the Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu, the Embassy provided 550 units of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), 10,000 units of masks, 50 units of Infrared Digital Thermometers and 5,000 pairs of surgical gloves. “Additionally, hand sanitizers, hand sprayers and disinfectant solutions were also donated amidst a function at the Ministry of Health and Population," it reads.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed. Israel and Nepal are at the same side in the fight against this pandemic of Covid-19 to save lives," ambassador Benny Omer, on the occasion, said.
Accepting the gift of people of Israel, the minister Dhakal thanked on behalf of Nepal government. "I would like to thank the Government of Israel for your solidarity and support during our battle against Covid-19," he said, adding that sending these essential medical goods to ward it off gives a message that the Government of Israel and Israeli friends are with Nepal and Nepalis during this challenging time. "Together we can and we will win against Covid-19.”
This is a gift from people of Israel to the people of Nepal to help protect doctors, nurses and others, who work in the frontline to save lives of the patients suspected and infected with the virus, the press note reads, adding that the cooperation is manifestation of the Nepal-Israel friendship and mutual affinity to help battle against the spread of Covid-19.

Nepal-Israel sign agriculture cooperation agreement

Nepal and Israel have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav and minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel Shalom Shimon signed the agreement on 'Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture ' on behalf of their respective governments on Wednesday.

Speaking during the signing ceremony and dinner hosted in honour of the Nepali minister and his delegation by Shimon in Jerusalem, Yadav expressed the hope that the agreement would pave the way for opportunities in the field wherein peoples of both countries would benefit.

He also sought the Israeli government's support for initiating active bilateral agriculture cooperation, particularly in technology transfer for mutual benefit. Yadav also called for greater and diversified interaction between at the professional as well as government levels of both the countries in the days ahead. Shimon said Israel has various kinds of agriculture systems based on high-technology as well as other proven systems and that it is very much optimistic about the outcome of the agreement and assured that his country is keen to promote agricultural cooperation with Nepal.

Yadav also met with other various senior officials including Israel's reputed agricultural entrepreneurs and industrialists and toured different locations of Israel to observe different agricultural sites, technology farms, and research and development stations including the high-tech based irrigation and farming system. During the course of its visit, the Nepalese delegation also held extensive interaction with Israeli agricultural researchers, producers, exporters, farmers as well as Nepali agriculture on-the-job-training students in Israel.

Earlier on Monday, the Nepali delegation held bilateral meetings with the Israeli government delegation led by Shimon. They discussed bilateral matters pertaining to agricultural cooperation, transfer of agricultural technology and exchange of visits on professional, academic as well as official levels. Nepal's ambassador to Israel Baijnath Thapalia Israel was also present during the meeting.

Yadav was in Israel on an official visit from March 14 to 18, leading a four- member Nepali delegation comprising National Planning Commission member Prof Subodh Narayan Jha, Joint Secretary at the ministry Dr Hari Dahal and Registrar at the Department of Cooperatives Maheshwor Sharma Paudel.

Yadav left Israel for Kathmandu today.

Nepalis migrant workers abroad are vulnerable

The experts and diplomats today said that foreign employment was not a long-term solution.
Speaking at a seminar on 'Global Financial Recession and Its Impact on Foreign Employment' organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, diplomats were of the view that global recession had hit albeit less the major countries where there is large concentration of Nepali migrant workers.
Nepali ambassadors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Republic of Korea and Malaysia presented first-hand information about these countries and the condition of Nepali migrant workers there.
Inaugurating the seminar, Minister for Labour and Transport Management Lekhraj Bhatta said Nepali youths are compelled to go out for foreign employment due to lack of employment opportunities here at home.
The envoys giving the first hand account of these countires highlighted that the Nepalis missions abroad needs to be strenghtened to tackle such labour problems. "Construction sector in the most of the countries in the Gulf and Malaysis is hit by the recession and majority of Nepalis are employed in this sector making them more vulnerable," they opined.