NEW DELHI: Over 6,000 Indian workers are set to arrive in Israel in April and May to address the labour shortage faced by the construction sector following the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The government of Israel said that these workers will be transported via “air shuttle” with charter flights being subsidized to facilitate their arrival.
According to a statement issued by the Israel government on Wednesday this initiative comes as a result of a collaborative decision by the Israel prime minister’s office (PMO), finance ministry, and the construction and housing ministry.
However, the outbreak of conflict in October led to the revocation of work permits for a significant majority of these workers. The statement said “the largest number of foreign workers arriving in Israel for the construction sector in a short time”.
“Thanks to the joint financing of the PMO, the finance ministry and the construction and housing ministry, it was agreed approximately one week ago on the arrival of over 6,000 workers from India during April and May on an ‘air shuttle’ following the subsidising of charter flights,” it said.
Previously a statement released by the Israel foreign ministry in May last year had said that 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction sector and another 8,000 for nursing needs. In the last six months, about 800 workers from India have also joined the agricultural sector in Israel.
Last week, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at his weekly media briefing said that “As you are aware, these (first batch) workers have gone to Israel as part of a government-to-government agreement that we have signed with the country.”
“This agreement predates the conflict. We are conscious of their safety. We have urged the Israeli authorities to ensure their safety and well-being,” he said.
Jaiswal affirmed that the safety of the Indian workers is a top priority, with ongoing communication between the Indian embassy in Israel and the workers, including approximately 18,000 Indian caregivers currently employed in the country. “Our embassy is in touch with the Indians in Israel,” he said.
Israel and India also inked an agreement in May last year during then Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s visit to Delhi to allow 42,000 Indians to work in the Jewish state in fields of construction and nursing, a move that was then seen to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care.
(With inputs from agencies)
The government of Israel said that these workers will be transported via “air shuttle” with charter flights being subsidized to facilitate their arrival.
According to a statement issued by the Israel government on Wednesday this initiative comes as a result of a collaborative decision by the Israel prime minister’s office (PMO), finance ministry, and the construction and housing ministry.
However, the outbreak of conflict in October led to the revocation of work permits for a significant majority of these workers. The statement said “the largest number of foreign workers arriving in Israel for the construction sector in a short time”.
“Thanks to the joint financing of the PMO, the finance ministry and the construction and housing ministry, it was agreed approximately one week ago on the arrival of over 6,000 workers from India during April and May on an ‘air shuttle’ following the subsidising of charter flights,” it said.
Previously a statement released by the Israel foreign ministry in May last year had said that 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction sector and another 8,000 for nursing needs. In the last six months, about 800 workers from India have also joined the agricultural sector in Israel.
Last week, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at his weekly media briefing said that “As you are aware, these (first batch) workers have gone to Israel as part of a government-to-government agreement that we have signed with the country.”
“This agreement predates the conflict. We are conscious of their safety. We have urged the Israeli authorities to ensure their safety and well-being,” he said.
Jaiswal affirmed that the safety of the Indian workers is a top priority, with ongoing communication between the Indian embassy in Israel and the workers, including approximately 18,000 Indian caregivers currently employed in the country. “Our embassy is in touch with the Indians in Israel,” he said.
Israel and India also inked an agreement in May last year during then Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s visit to Delhi to allow 42,000 Indians to work in the Jewish state in fields of construction and nursing, a move that was then seen to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care.
(With inputs from agencies)