Foreign Workers in Israel Face Exodus Amidst Ongoing Conflict in the Gaza strip

Since the outbreak of the war, nearly 7,000 foreign workers have left Israel, posing a significant challenge to the country's labor force. According to data collected by the Administration of Foreign Workers at the Population and Immigration Authority, the departure of foreign workers is affecting various sectors of the economy.

Among those who left, 1,889 were Thai workers engaged in agriculture, and the largest group that departed comprised experts and chefs, totaling 2,329 individuals. Additionally, the construction sector saw 1,929 workers leaving, while 892 individuals working in home and institutional nursing, primarily from the Philippines, also left. However, the impact on the hotel industry has been minimal, with only three departures reported.

Inbal Mashash, the head of the Administration of Foreign Workers, noted that the last two weeks have presented significant challenges for the authority and the economy as a whole. They have been working in collaboration with foreign embassies to reassure workers, boost their morale, and ensure their safety, with the ultimate goal of retaining their presence in Israel.

The most substantial issue is found in the Gaza Strip, where 5,700 foreign workers were employed in agriculture, with 1,889 of them having left the country due to the ongoing conflict.

Mashash shared her concerns and said, "We are following the developments and taking steps to preserve the capacity of the workforce in the economy. This also means recruiting from other countries, providing incentives and facilities to encourage workers to stay in Israel, and offering support through embassies and other actions to help foreign workers in the country."

The Thai Embassy in Israel facilitated the evacuation of its citizens who work in Israel, with around 6,000 Thais registering to leave. However, only a fraction, less than 2,000, departed while others expressed their desire to remain, return after a vacation, or await developments.

Despite the initial panic, Mashash believes that many workers will choose to stay in Israel once the tangible danger subsides. The Thai government has indicated that most Thai workers wish to remain in Israel or return to work there.

There is also a significant number of Nepalese students and workers in Israel who have chosen not to leave. The challenge now is to retain nursing care workers, of which there are 76,000 in the country, with the majority being legal.

Efforts are ongoing to prevent these workers from leaving by working with their home governments, embassies, and other relevant authorities to ensure incentives are provided for their continued presence in Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government is exploring the possibility of recruiting foreign workers from new countries to mitigate the labor shortage. The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Population and Immigration Authority, is offering incentives to encourage foreign workers to stay in Israel, with a focus on the southern agricultural sector.

As the situation unfolds, Israel is looking for solutions to retain its foreign workforce and minimize the impact on its economy and agricultural production. Automatic extensions of residence visas and other regulatory concessions are being considered to address the situation while preventing economic damage.