Israelis take a break, job aspirants left harried

Sunit Dhawan

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Rohtak, January 20

Hundreds of candidates aspiring to get jobs as skilled workers in Israel, who reached here from far-off places to appear in the skill tests, were turned away as the members of the Israeli team had their weekly off today.

Officials rude, non-committal

We do not have much hope of being called for the test tomorrow as the officials conducting the recruitment process were rude and non-committal. Naveen, a job aspirant

Disappointed at the sudden halt in the recruitment drive, most of the job aspirants returned to their native places.

“We had been told that the recruitment process would be held from January 16 to 21. There was no information about today being a holiday for the Israeli team,” said Stalion Bhati, a candidate for a construction site job, from Hisar.

“We have no option but to return home and come again tomorrow, if called,” he stated.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) officials maintained that the skill tests were not conducted today due to it being a weekly off day of Israeli officials.

Meanwhile, confusion also prevailed over the eligibility criteria for the jobs of skilled workers. Amit from Dobh village in Rohtak district and Vikas from Umarwas in Charkhi Dadri, both aspirants for jobs of plastering mason, said they were told to furnish ITI diplomas and/or experience certificates, although no formal educational qualification had been fixed for the jobs of skilled workers.

On the other hand, sources stated that apart from having their weekly off, the Israeli team members were upset at the low number of candidates being allowed to take the tests and a large number of job aspirants from other states being turned away.

“A member of the Israeli team conducting the tests even remarked that persons from the streets were being sent to take the skill tests,” said an official engaged in the recruitment drive, requesting not to be named.

The recruitment drive would end tomorrow (Sunday), the last day of the tests. However, the candidates who came to take the tests today were told to come tomorrow only if they receive an SMS on their phones.

“We do not have much hope of being called for the test tomorrow as the officials conducting the recruitment process were rude and non-committal,” said Naveen, a job aspirant. He said while the candidates from other states had been turned away earlier, those from Haryana were also being sent back on various pretexts.