Israel has approached India to recruit 10,000 construction workers and 5,000 caregivers to fill the skill gaps in its infrastructure and healthcare sectors, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) reported. This request follows a similar drive conducted earlier this year.
The NSDC’s statement comes amid reports of faulty recruitment under a bilateral job scheme that recruits Indian workers for Israel’s construction industry. This follows a ban on over 100,000 Palestinian workers after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
According to the Israeli Embassy, 5,000 workers were recruited through two pathways: Government-to-Government (G2G) handled by NSDC, and Business-to-Business (B2B) overseen by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Israel’s Population, Immigration, and Border Authority (PIBA) has specifically requested workers skilled in Framework, Iron Bending, Plastering, and Ceramic Tiling.
PIBA assessors will visit India soon to conduct skill tests for the selection process, with the second recruitment round for construction workers set to take place in Maharashtra. Additionally, Israel seeks 5,000 caregivers who have completed the 10th standard, possess a recognized caregiving certificate, and have 990 hours of on-the-job training.
In the initial recruitment round, 16,832 candidates underwent skill tests, and 10,349 were selected. Those recruited will earn approximately ₹1.92 lakh per month, along with benefits like medical insurance, food, accommodation, and a bonus of ₹16,515 per month.
The G2G agreement, signed in November 2023 following a framework established in May 2023, mandates that all candidates receive pre-departure training to help them adapt to Israeli culture. This initiative is part of India’s vision to become the Skill Capital of the world, with NSDC spearheading efforts to create skilled, internationally mobile workers through training and capacity building with global partners.
