KATHMANDU: The fortunes of hundreds of Nepali migrant workers are overshadowed by the snail’s pace progress in reopening an overseas destination. Israel has kept the door closed for Nepali workers since April 24 last year. Despite promises from Nepali outsourcing agencies, the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) and diplomatic efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Israel is reluctant to allow Nepalis in. “Destination Israel is uncertain,” said Sthaneshwor Devakota, executive director of Foreign Employment promotion Board (FEPB). “The ball is in Israel’s court.” According to Devakota, the Israeli government has broken the promise it made during the visit of Minister for Labour and Transport Management Mohammed Aftab Alam on August 24. “It promised to open Israel for Nepalis within a week,” he said. Israel has asked MoLTM to punish 17 outsourcing agencies of Nepal but the ministry has not obliged. Outsourcers here believe the Israeli claim is just a sham. “Actually, Israel wants to phase out the involvement of outsourcing agencies and bring in the International Organization of Migration (IOM),” an outsourcer said. Prevailing foreign employment laws of Nepal do not permit IOM to work in this sector. “IOM cannot work within the existing legal framework,” said Devakota, “However, it can assist in monitoring.” MoLTM has already sent a draft proposal to Israel promising formation of a strong monitoring mechanism with involvement of IOM. “We are awaiting the response to the draft sent in the beginning of November,” he added. Israel has alleged that Nepali workers are unskilled, that there is discrimination between male and female workers by Nepali outsourcers and that the incoming workers are weak in Hebrew language. However, DoFE and outsourcing agencies involved in the Israel business have set a standard last June — reduction of service fee to $3,400 and minimum levels of training and knowledge of Hebrew language.