Interior Minister Shaked intends to restrict the work of Ukrainian refugees to 17 cities

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked announced on Thursday that she intends to restrict the work of Ukrainian refugees in 17 cities across the country starting August 1. This restriction is in accordance with the new procedure of the Population Authority regarding the employment of asylum seekers, which was published in Haaretz a month ago. Shaked's announcement comes against the background of the High Court's decision to allow the entry of Ukrainian citizens.
The Minister announced that the policy of non-enforcement of the employment of Ukrainians staying in Israel for more than 90 days, including 13,945 Ukrainians who arrived after the outbreak of the war, would be subject to the new geographical restrictions procedure and no enforcement would be enforced against employers. All this on the condition that they will not be employed in cities that are restricted in industries other than construction, agriculture, institutional nursing and hotels. Shaked stated that the responsibility to check that the employee does indeed hold a passport and that he has been in Israel for more than 90 days rests with the employer. The cities where the restrictions will apply and where Ukrainian war refugees are located are Bat Yam, Netanya, Ashdod, Petah Tikva, Holon, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Eilat and Jerusalem.
Advocate Orly Levinson-Sela, director of the public department at the ASF (Organization for Assistance to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel), told Haaretz that the new procedure not only does not address the population that has been here for about five months without social rights and services. "Certain certainty because their visas are extended by one month at a time - it also adds sin to crime, limits their employability and thus increases their exposure to abusive and exploitative employment, and puts them at increased risk of poverty, food insecurity and human trafficking."
This is the first time that the employment restriction procedure has been implemented. For Eritreans and Sudanese, the procedure, which was intended for them in the first place, will take effect on October 1. This decision comes against the background of the High Court's decision to accept the petition against the abolition of the exemption approving entry of Ukrainian citizens during the war with Russia.
Following the High Court's decision, Shaked sought to amend the entry order into Israel and restrict the entry of Ukrainian citizens. Israel has more than 21,000 Ukrainian refugees who are not eligible for the Law of Return, only about 14,500 of whom are still here. May Shaked announced non-enforcement states regarding the employment of Ukrainians. , Or against their employers.