A team of “selectors” from Israel recently concluded a visit to India, and another senior delegation is scheduled to depart next week to commence the recruitment process for filling the acute labor shortage faced by Israel’s construction industry.
The Israel Builders Association (IBA) is set to start the process in Delhi and Chennai on December 27, aiming to recruit 10,000 workers initially, with plans to scale up to 30,000 in the near future.
The selection process, anticipated to last 10-15 days, involves a delegation led by Izchak Gurvitz and CEO Igal Slovik, along with other members of the IBA team and Director General Yehuda Morgenstern from the Ministry of Construction and Housing.
During a recent conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the urgent need for foreign workers from India to meet the labor demands in Israel’s construction projects.
The ongoing labor shortage is compelling Israel to seek workers abroad, with discussions revolving around the potential recruitment of around 160,000 people from India, particularly in the construction sector.
The shortage is a result of the revocation of work permits for Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as the ongoing war affecting the availability of workers.
The recruitment effort also aligns with the agreement signed between Israel and India in May, allowing 42,000 Indian workers to contribute to Israel’s construction and nursing fields.