Serious shortage of cashiers in Israeli stores: situation will worsen before the holidays

Israeli supermarket chains are reporting a catastrophic shortage of cashiers ahead of the autumn holidays. Each major chain is missing about 400 cashiers, with a total deficit reaching 3,000 people. The Ministry of Labor is blocking the transfer of foreign workers already employed in the chains to cashier positions. The allocated quota of 5,000 workers does not cover the real demand, which exceeds 50,000 people.

Israeli supermarket chains are sounding the alarm ahead of the autumn holidays: there is a catastrophic shortage of cashiers in branches. As of Wednesday, August 19, each major food chain is missing approximately 400 cashiers, with a combined deficit reaching 3,000 people. Shoppers will feel this problem in queues shortly before Rosh Hashanah. The chains tried to attract Israelis with higher salaries and benefits, and also installed additional self-checkout stations, but this did not solve the problem. The Ministry of Labor is blocking the chains' attempts to transfer foreign workers already employed by them to cashier positions. The recent quotas for 5,000 additional foreign workers for trade and services are a step in the right direction, but demand exceeds 50,000 workers. The author is Yonatan Primo, CEO of the 'Central Bureau for Foreign Workers', a private company providing services to employers hiring foreign workers. The article combines a report on the shortage with the lobbying position of the author, who represents the interests of the industry.