New job opportunities with economic security for India’s workforce

After witnessing the grandeur of the newly opened Ram temple gates in Ayodhya on January 23, Surendra Singh, a 40-year-old from Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, embarked on a different journey. Singh hoped to secure economic stability for his family by crossing seas, seeking employment in Israel.

We learned about Singh’s journey from our own sources at Reader Wall. He is one of approximately 500 men participating in a trade test held at ITI Aliganj in Lucknow, with the hope of finding work in Israel’s thriving construction sector.

A controversial agreement signed

On November 3, 2023, The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship had stirred up controversy by signing an agreement for employment of Indian workers in Israel’s construction and caregiving sectors. This was met with an uproar from trade unions that accused the government of unintelligently sending its citizens into an active war zone.

Despite the ongoing war in the region, unemployed individuals like Singh, with a higher secondary education, see this as a chance for a better future. Prior to COVID-19, Singh was an iron-bender in Qatar, where he was able to send back ₹30,000 monthly. Now, with the new job openings in Israel, he hopes to support his family similarly.

Providing aid to a war-torn region while boosting the economy at home

Following Gaza’s attack by Israel which left over 25000 Palestinians dead, the news of 10,000 job openings in Israel in December ignited hope in Indian citizens. For a salary between ₹1,36,000 and ₹1,37,000 per month, many Indian citizens between 21 and 45 years see these jobs as a rare opportunity despite the high cost of living in Israel.

The recruitment process for these jobs is facilitated by NSDC International, a not-for-profit public limited organization in which the Government of India holds a 49% stake. At ITI in Lucknow, they manage logistics while the Israeli government agency, Population, Immigration, and Border Authority (PIBA), conducts tests.

Braving competition and dreams of a better life

For candidates like Kanshi Ram from Azamgarh district, the prospect of earning almost 15 times his current earnings outweighs the fact that the job is in a conflict zone. Others, like Bhavish Goswami from Jhansi, see this as a chance to start anew in a foreign land.

Testing and scores

The NSDC brochure promises that successful candidates will be employed by an Israeli company. It has stated that stringent measures are in place to protect residents and employees during periods of heightened tension. This has helped assuage the anxiety of applicants over the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Registrations and testing are rigorous processes, and many of the hopeful candidates have reported spending hours verifying their documents. The demand for these jobs far exceeds the supply, with many unregistered applicants showing up in the hopes of a walk-in interview slot. Tests, based on each trade, require efficient and accurate performance within a given time frame.

Critiques and objections

The recruitment exercise is not without its critics. Chandershekhar, the State general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), has voiced his concerns about the economic disparity between India and developed nations like Israel and the government’s questionable negotiation tactics on wages and working conditions for Indian labor.

Despite these criticisms, for many, these employment opportunities represent a chance at a better quality of life. The opportunity to provide for their families and secure economic stability far outweighs the inherent risks associated with working in a conflict zone.

The end game: Job seekers play their part

One such hopeful candidate is Singh, who sees a future with his daughter receiving a good education. Like the other aspirants, Singh is willing to wait and see if his hopes for a better future materialize.

The promising economic prospects of these job opportunities cannot be denied, but their potential costs remain under public scrutiny. The demand for these jobs underscores the desperate economic conditions many Indian workers face, pushing them to seek employment even in conflict zones.