By Suleman Chitera

Malawi is set to begin recruiting 500 nurses to work in Israel as the two countries strengthen bilateral labour cooperation, marking a significant expansion of employment opportunities beyond the agricultural sector.

Malawi’s Head of Mission to Israel, David Bisnowaty, disclosed the development in an interview in Tel Aviv, saying implementation protocols for the bilateral labour agreement are now at an advanced stage. He said the recruitment exercise will commence once the remaining administrative procedures are completed.

According to Bisnowaty, the recruitment of nurses represents the first phase of a broader initiative aimed at creating more legal employment opportunities for qualified Malawians in Israel.Israel Farm Jobs Losing Appeal Among Malawian Workers Over Escape Concerns

He explained that Malawi’s labour cooperation with Israel previously encountered challenges after more than 700 Malawian workers who travelled under a private Business-to-Business (B2B) recruitment arrangement abandoned their designated farms and sought asylum. The incident, he said, undermined confidence among Israeli authorities and farm owners, delaying the implementation of the Government-to-Government (G2G) labour agreement signed in April 2024.

The G2G agreement provides for the recruitment of up to 3,000 Malawian agricultural workers, a programme expected to boost employment while strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

Bisnowaty said President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has thrown his full support behind the labour export programme, describing it as a strategic initiative that creates jobs, generates foreign exchange, improves household incomes and equips Malawians with valuable professional and technical skills that they can bring back home.How Malawi’s Gold Is Allegedly Flowing Into Israel Through Smuggling Networks

He further revealed that Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda and Minister of Labour Joel Chigona are working closely with Israeli authorities to operationalise the bilateral agreements and expand legal employment opportunities for Malawians. Discussions are also underway on the possible reintroduction of a regulated private B2B recruitment framework.

During a visit to farms in Israel by Malawi Embassy officials led by the Chargé d’Affaires, several Malawian workers told MBC that although agricultural work is physically demanding, the financial rewards are substantial. They said the higher earnings have enabled them to invest in businesses, housing and other development projects back in Malawi.

The Malawi Embassy in Israel says the growing labour partnership continues to deliver significant economic benefits through employment creation, increased foreign exchange earnings, skills transfer and stronger diplomatic and economic relations between Malawi and Israel.Malawi’s Gold Mystery: Who Is Benefiting While the Nation Remains Poor?

The planned recruitment of 500 nurses is expected to further deepen cooperation between the two countries while opening new career opportunities for Malawian health professionals seeking international work experience.