Nepal to Sign New Agreement with Israel to Send Workers in Agriculture Sector

Nepal and Israel are preparing to sign a new labour agreement to send Nepali workers to Israel’s agricultural sector. Government officials said the process will move forward after Monday’s Cabinet meeting approved the proposal to enter into a fresh labour pact with Israel.

Nepal previously signed a protocol in 2020 to send caregivers to Israel. Under the agreement, the government sent 1,600 caregivers through the government-to-government (G2G) mechanism in 2021. In the second phase, Nepal announced vacancies to send 2,000 caregivers in June–July 2024, of whom around 1,500 have already reached Israel.

Although the earlier agreement remains in effect, officials said it does not include a renewal provision, prompting preparations for a new agreement.

Pitambar Ghimire, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, said the previous agreement had expired and lacked a renewal clause. “Since there was no provision for renewal, we are preparing to sign a new agreement in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he told New Business Age.

Israel has been requesting Nepal to send workers not only in caregiving but also in agriculture and construction sectors. However, Nepal has so far sent workers only in the caregiving and agricultural sectors. Ghimire said the new agreement will focus on sending caregivers and agricultural workers. “We are preparing an agreement to send Nepali workers under the caregiving and ‘learn and earn’ programmes,” he said.

In October 2023, an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel’s Kibbutz areas killed 10 Nepali students, while Bipin Joshi was abducted. His death was confirmed nearly two years later, and his body was brought back to Nepal. Following the incident, government authorities had remained cautious about sending workers to Israel. However, officials said preparations resumed after the formation of the government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

Another senior official at the labour ministry said Israel is ready to take 2,000 to 2,500 Nepali workers immediately but could not proceed due to the absence of a formal agreement. “Once the agreement is signed, the pathway for sending workers will open,” the official said.

After the agreement, not only Nepali students but also workers will be eligible to go to Israel under the ‘learn and earn’ programme. Previously, only students were allowed under the scheme.

Nepalis have been travelling to Israel for employment since around 2000. Although the process was halted at one point, labour migration resumed following a bilateral agreement between the two countries.