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🇮🇱 Israel /Economy & Trade

Israel imports record foreign workforce to replace Palestinians, but housing crisis looms

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • Israel has replaced a significant portion of its Palestinian labor force with 250,000 foreign workers since October 7, 2023, with numbers expected to rise to 330,000.
  • Employers are obligated to provide housing for foreign workers, but concerns about crowding and poor conditions are increasing.
  • The influx of foreign workers, who are described as excellent and diligent employees, aims to fill labor gaps, particularly in sectors previously reliant on Palestinian workers.

Israel has rapidly replaced its Palestinian labor force with foreign workers since October 7, 2023, bringing the total number of foreign workers to 250,000, with plans to increase this to 330,000. This significant shift aims to fill labor shortages, especially in industries that previously depended on Palestinian workers.

Before the recent conflict, an estimated 150,000 Palestinian workers, with 92,000 legally employed, regularly entered Israel. Following the closure of borders with the Palestinian Authority, only about 20,000 Palestinian workers now operate in Israel, primarily in essential sectors. To bridge this gap, Israel has initiated unprecedented measures to import foreign workers through bilateral agreements and direct hiring by authorized companies.

Here they get five or six times the average salary than in their countries of origin. They come to Israel for just one purpose - to earn money for their families. They send 80% of their salary to their families, make no trouble, and are regarded as excellent workers.

— Yoki Moshonov, CEO of OvedlyDescribing the motivations and perceived qualities of foreign workers in Israel.

While the foreign workers are lauded by employers as excellent, diligent, and reliable employees who do not take sick leave and arrive on time, a substantial challenge looms: housing. Employers are legally obligated to provide suitable accommodation, leading some companies to rent entire buildings. However, reports of overcrowding and substandard living conditions are on the rise, with government solutions appearing largely theoretical.

"Here they get five or six times the average salary than in their countries of origin," said Yoki Moshonov, CEO of Ovedly, a company that assists foreign workers. "They come to Israel for just one purpose - to earn money for their families. They send 80% of their salary to their families, make no trouble, and are regarded as excellent workers."

They don't take sick leave, don't smoke, get to work on time - what did you bring me? I never imagined they would be so good.

— Employers interviewed by OvedlyPraising the work ethic and reliability of foreign workers.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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