Ben Gurion Airport Closure Delays Arrival of 15,000 Foreign Construction Workers

Eldad Nitzan, Chairman of the Foreign Construction Corporations in Israel, warned that the ongoing closure of Ben Gurion Airport is preventing the arrival of 15,000 much-needed foreign construction workers. These workers were expected to help alleviate the critical labor shortage in the Israeli construction industry.

"The delay not only halts their arrival—it also puts their decision to come to Israel at risk," Nitzan said. "Many are under pressure from their families due to the security situation and may ultimately decide not to come."

According to Nitzan, most of the foreign workers currently in Israel are not deterred by the threat of war with the "Kalavi" group and are still willing to work. However, approximately half of them are currently unemployed due to the closure of construction sites. This has created a financial burden for construction corporations, which continue to cover workers' living expenses despite a lack of productivity.

Israel currently employs about 55,000 foreign construction workers. The arrival of the additional 15,000—who were expected to come from India, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, and Uzbekistan—would bring the workforce to around 70,000, which Nitzan said is the number needed to meet the industry’s demand in 2025.

In light of the delays, Nitzan urged the Population and Immigration Authority to use the downtime to complete the necessary bureaucratic processes and issue work permits. "This is a critical window," he emphasized. "We must ensure that when the airport reopens, the workers can enter without further delay."