Clearly mentioning the name of those manpower agencies, Israel also asked the government to take strong action against those companies as a precondition to lift six months long restriction of Nepali workers for Israeli jobs.“
"We have almost completed the first phase of investigation against 15 manpower agencies and one more company is currently under scanner," Kashi Nath Marasini, director of Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), told myrepublica.com on Monday.
The manpower agencies under the DoFE scanner are High Lander Employment, Kathmandu International, Alpha-Sigma Overseas, Blue-Sky International, Galiment Manpower, Nepal Gulf Manpower, Sigma International, Sunaulo Prakash Manpower, Neel Kamal Human Resources, Ishan Employment, Everest International, Worldwide Human Resources, Life Line International and other two manpower agencies the names of which are being verified.
Marasini, who is also coordinator of investigation panel formed by the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management, said the panel has gathered information about the fees levied by those manpower agencies, labor contracts and their past track record in dealing with jobseekers. However, a source said establishing proof of overcharging by those manpower companies is technically difficult as most of the victims are working in Israel.
Israel has stopped issuing fresh work visas to Nepali workers for the last six months, raising serious objection over rampant practice of levying excessive charge -- which is more than thrice the government-fixed rate - by Nepali manpower agents, increasing trend of Nepali workers doubling as manpower agents in Israel, increasing trend of Nepali workers landing in Israel on flying visa -- a work visa without guarantee of jobs -- and lack of skilled workforce among others.
The government has allowed manpower agencies to collect Rs 240,000 each from jobseekers for arranging Israeli jobs. However, the agencies were collecting as much as thrice the amount fixed by the government from the jobseekers.
Labor Minister Mohammad Aftab Alam visited Israel in August to put diplomatic pressure on Israel to reopen lucrative Israeli job market for Nepali workers. However, the Israeli officials had repeatedly raised the malpractices in the process of sending Nepali workers to Israel.
Israel -- home to more than 12,000 Nepali workers -- is one of the most lucrative labor destinations for female migrant workers in terms of security and remuneration. Most of the Nepali workers work as house maid in Israel.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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