Thousands of Foreign Construction Workers Stranded Due to Staffing Shortages in Population Authority

Eldad Nitzan, Chairman of the Foreign Workers' Association in the Construction Industry, has issued an urgent appeal to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, calling for immediate intervention to resolve severe staffing shortages in the Population and Immigration Authority’s Building Division.

According to Nitzan, over 6,000 foreign workers have been stranded for more than three months in the Building Division, with an additional 10,000 workers delayed in the Ministry of Housing. The backlog is attributed to a critical shortage of personnel in the Building Division, which is responsible for processing foreign workers and managing employer corporations.

“This is an urgent request,” wrote Nitzan, “to order the transfer of workers from inactive divisions to the Building Division to expedite the processing of much-needed foreign workers for contractors and the citizens of Israel.”

Following the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, the Israeli government approved a measure to allow the private-sector recruitment of up to 30,000 foreign construction workers. These workers were to be brought in under a special B2B (business-to-business) framework, authorized until June 30, 2025. Despite the approval, bureaucratic bottlenecks are preventing thousands from arriving.

Currently, about 60,000 foreign workers are employed in Israel’s construction industry, 20,000 of whom entered under the B2B track. The Building Division handles both the foreign corporations and construction companies involved, as well as administrative oversight and enforcement.

“The division, led by Yishai and his dedicated staff, works tirelessly for the industry’s benefit,” said Nitzan. “However, the dramatic rise in activity—both in terms of new corporations and worker entries—has overwhelmed existing resources.”

The situation has become urgent enough to attract attention at the parliamentary level. MK Eti Hava Attia announced during a Public Works Committee meeting that a follow-up discussion will be held on May 28, focusing on the labor dispute within the Population Authority. This follows a strike that took place on the eve of Passover, highlighting the Authority's ongoing operational challenges.

Nitzan warned that continued delays in the arrival of foreign construction workers are costing the Israeli economy tens of thousands of dollars daily, as construction projects stall due to labor shortages.

Eldad Nitzan, Chairman of the Foreign Workers' Association in the Construction Industry, has issued an urgent appeal to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, calling for immediate intervention to resolve severe staffing shortages in the Population and Immigration Authority’s Building Division.

According to Nitzan, over 6,000 foreign workers have been stranded for more than three months in the Building Division, with an additional 10,000 workers delayed in the Ministry of Housing. The backlog is attributed to a critical shortage of personnel in the Building Division, which is responsible for processing foreign workers and managing employer corporations.

“This is an urgent request,” wrote Nitzan, “to order the transfer of workers from inactive divisions to the Building Division to expedite the processing of much-needed foreign workers for contractors and the citizens of Israel.”

Following the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, the Israeli government approved a measure to allow the private-sector recruitment of up to 30,000 foreign construction workers. These workers were to be brought in under a special B2B (business-to-business) framework, authorized until June 30, 2025. Despite the approval, bureaucratic bottlenecks are preventing thousands from arriving.

Currently, about 60,000 foreign workers are employed in Israel’s construction industry, 20,000 of whom entered under the B2B track. The Building Division handles both the foreign corporations and construction companies involved, as well as administrative oversight and enforcement.

“The division, led by Yishai and his dedicated staff, works tirelessly for the industry’s benefit,” said Nitzan. “However, the dramatic rise in activity—both in terms of new corporations and worker entries—has overwhelmed existing resources.”

The situation has become urgent enough to attract attention at the parliamentary level. MK Eti Hava Attia announced during a Public Works Committee meeting that a follow-up discussion will be held on May 28, focusing on the labor dispute within the Population Authority. This follows a strike that took place on the eve of Passover, highlighting the Authority's ongoing operational challenges.

Nitzan warned that continued delays in the arrival of foreign construction workers are costing the Israeli economy tens of thousands of dollars daily, as construction projects stall due to labor shortages.