The Israeli construction industry has formally requested the government in Tel Aviv to permit the employment of up to 100,000 Indian workers. This request aims to replace the 90,000 Palestinian workers whose work permits were revoked following the October 7th attack by Hamas.

According to a Voice of America report from the West Bank, Haim Feiglin, the Vice President of the Israel Builders Association, stated, “Right now we are negotiating with India. We are waiting for the decision of the Israeli government to approve that. And, we hope to engage 50,000 to 100,000 workers from India to be able to run the whole sector and bring it back to normal.”

India's external affairs ministry has not provided responses to inquiries regarding this report, nor have they indicated whether the government would permit Indian workers to relocate to a conflict zone for employment. Notably, this consideration arises while Operation Ajay, the ongoing evacuation operation from Israel, remains incomplete.

Haim Feiglin, the Vice President of the Israel Builders Association, highlighted that the Israeli construction industry, which heavily relies on Palestinian labour, has been experiencing disruptions since October 7. Palestinians constitute approximately 25 percent of the industry's workforce.

“We are at war and the Palestinian workers, which are about 25 percent of our human resources in the sector, are not coming, are not permitted to work in Israel,” Feiglin said. Around 10 percent of the Palestinian workers come from Gaza, the focal point of the conflict, while the remaining workforce hails from the West Bank.

Israel has been actively seeking workers from India for several months, with a particular focus on the construction sector, which has been grappling with a labour shortage. In May, Israel entered into an agreement with India that paved the way for 42,000 Indian workers to be employed in Israel, primarily in the construction sector and nursing roles.

The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Temporary Employment of Workers in Specific Labour Market Sectors in Israel was officially established on May 9, coinciding with the visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to India. This marked a significant development as it was the first time Israel's construction sector had opened its doors to Indian workers, who had previously been primarily involved in caregiving roles. The agreement also encompasses opportunities for nursing staff. This move signifies a strategic effort to address labour shortages in Israel's construction sector by tapping into the Indian workforce, and it further extends this cooperation to the field of nursing.

The framework agreement, which was ultimately signed, had been under development for more than a year prior to its finalization. During this period, a delegation of Israeli officials from various ministries visited India in March, where they conducted visits to training centers located across the country.

According to the Middle East Monitor, the Population and Immigration Authority in Israel has remarked that the Indian workers set to arrive in Israel are characterized by their diligence, extensive experience, and proficiency in the English language. This observation underscores the positive attributes of the incoming Indian workforce that are seen as valuable additions to Israel's labour market.

The preference for foreign workers over Palestinians is growing due to their ability to provide insurance against frequent work disruptions. The frequent halts in movement in and out of Gaza and the West Bank have made foreign workers a more reliable choice for employers.

Image source: India Today