Israel Bans Import of Foreign Workers for Construction
Israel's Ministry of Interior has notified companies and organizations involved in hiring foreign workers that the annual quota for bringing in construction workers has been exhausted, and has ordered an immediate halt to imports until further notice. This has frozen the entire process of hiring construction workers abroad, taking the industry by surprise. Contractors and the Ministry of Construction oppose the move, demanding an increase in the quota, as the sector faces a severe labor shortage following the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, August 11, the Population and Immigration Authority of the Ministry of Interior notified companies and organizations involved in hiring and vocational training of foreign workers that the annual quota for importing construction workers has been exhausted. The notice orders an immediate halt to the import of workers from abroad until further notice. Temporary rules allowed hiring up to 40,000 workers per year, but now all applications, including those already submitted, are frozen. This came as a complete surprise to the construction industry, which has been experiencing a severe labor shortage since the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The government had previously increased the quota and allowed contractors to hire workers directly, without intermediaries. The Association of Contractors and Builders in Israel stated that the government has dealt a blow to the successful model of importing foreign workers, which reduced construction times from 38.6 to 37 months. About 80,000 foreigners work on construction sites, with over 50% entering under the new model. The suspension of imports, according to the association, will drive up apartment prices and increase labor costs by 40%. The Ministry of Construction supported the contractors, noting that the quota was exhausted due to growing demand, and requested a 50% increase (an additional 20,000 workers), but the request was not granted. Now the Ministry of Construction demands an urgent meeting of directors general to increase the quota. The organization Kav LaOved considers the refusal to sign intergovernmental agreements a mistake and claims that 6,000 trained workers cannot enter.