More than 300,000 foreign workers flood the economy: "They are treated like merchandise"

The article reveals that over 300,000 foreign workers are employed in Israel under harsh conditions, with warnings from labor organizations and the Bank of Israel about harm to Israeli wages. The executive director of "Kav LaOved" describes objectification, lax supervision, and conditions bordering on human trafficking, following the expansion of the private recruitment track after October 7.

The article deals with the flooding of the Israeli economy with foreign workers, currently estimated at over 300,000: about 250,000 labor migrants (mostly from Asia), about 30,000 asylum seekers (mostly from Africa), and about 45,000 Palestinian workers from the West Bank (mostly in settlements). The executive director of the organization "Kav LaOved", attorney Meital Russo, describes a deterioration in employment conditions since October 7, 2023, when Palestinian workers were expelled and many labor migrants fled. The government expanded the private recruitment track, which allows bringing workers without close supervision, while paying commissions of $20,000–25,000. Russo warns of a process of objectification of workers, conditions bordering on human trafficking, and harm to the wages and employment opportunities of Israelis. The Histadrut and the Bank of Israel have also published similar warnings. The article presents the difficulty workers face in receiving information about protection during war, and the fear of firing vulnerable Israelis due to the massive influx.