Oct 30, Kathmandu- There have been fewer applications than demand to go to the UK for employment.

There was a demand for 100 nurses (health care assistants) for the UK. However, according to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, only 75 qualified applications were received. Dhananjaya Kumar Shah, officer of the Foreign Employment Management Branch of the Foreign Employment Department, said that only the application criteria of 75 people had been met. 771 people filled the online form for application. However, he said, only 75 people have submitted the documents according to the standards required for the application.

An agreement was reached between Nepal and Britain to take Nepali nurses for employment. Accordingly, the government requested an application on July 20. The ministry has not been able to make any decision on what to do next as the number of people who completed all the documents and submitted the application form within the specified period did not even reach 100. However, Officer Shah said that those who have registered online can be given more time to submit the necessary documents. The relevant agencies of the UK are also involved in the selection process of nurses. He said that the decision will be taken only after discussing with them. He said that this process will happen soon.

As soon as the government called for applications, there was an enthusiastic participation of the applicants, so that when there was a demand of 100 people, 775 people also registered online. However, due to non-submission of the necessary documents according to the prescribed standards, Shah said that only 75 eligible applications are currently available. The criteria for the application have been made at the international level. As a result, government officials estimate that there may be fewer applications. Applicants must have at least two years of work experience and submit an English language test certificate.

Shah said that the main reasons for the low number of applications could be the high score in the language test, 2 years of work experience, etc. English language test Must have scored 'B' in Occupational English Test (OET). Similarly, seven points must be scored in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Director General of Foreign Employment Department Madan Dahal said that there may be less applications due to the prescribed criteria. According to the agreement, nurses should score 6.5 in IELTS writing and 7 points in reading, listening and speaking.

Similarly, B grade has been arranged for the Occupational English Test (OET). In which there is a standard to get B grade in reading, writing and listening and C grade in writing. Official Shah said that most of those who have submitted their applications are not in a position to submit their applications because the criteria are very strict.