The Israeli government, facing a shortage of around 100,000 construction workers after banning Palestinians from entering due to the ongoing war in Gaza, has brought in 35,000 foreign workers through private companies, raising concerns about the potential increase in human trafficking operations, according to the specialized Israeli newspaper Calcalist.
The Israeli Ministry of Justice had warned of the potential risks of such a decision, as it could lead to an escalation in human trafficking, the newspaper reported.
The decision, led by the Ministry of Housing and implemented by private entities, contradicts the Ministry of Justice and the Population and Immigration Authority. It also goes against the approach of the US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, as mentioned by the newspaper.
This move could impact Israel’s classification in upcoming US monitoring reports, potentially leading to future economic sanctions, the same newspaper stated.
The paralysis in the Israeli construction sector, which relies on Palestinian workers who are currently barred from working in Israel due to the blockade and siege on the West Bank and the war on Gaza, is highlighted in the photo below:
Yehuda Morgenshtern, the executive director of the Ministry of Housing, spearheaded the initiative to employ foreign workers, contrary to a previous agreement with the Ministry of Justice. Legal experts within the government have raised concerns about the decision-making process, emphasizing its potential legal uncertainties.
The Israeli government had previously decided that foreign workers would only be recruited from countries with bilateral agreements with Israel to ensure organized employment. However, this step is now viewed as a departure from the established policy, with possible consequences for Israel’s international relations and economic stability.
Morgenshtern defended the decision by stating, “In the end, we must take risks. It may not be guaranteed, maybe 95%, but these are the risks we take in times of war, otherwise, we will not have any workers here at all.”
The newspaper indicates that the decision also raises ethical concerns, as workers are expected to pay exorbitant fees to private sector companies for employment, impacting their rights.
Countries like Moldova, which have bilateral agreements with Israel, have threatened to cancel these agreements after discovering attempts to recruit workers through private companies. This development has also alarmed Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.
Despite the government’s intention to address the labor shortage in the construction and industrial sectors, the decision has not yet proven effective in expediting the recruitment process. Additionally, it poses diplomatic challenges with potential repercussions.
Recently, a representative from the Israeli Ministry of Finance warned of significant losses to the Israeli economy by not allowing Palestinian workers to enter, estimated at up to 3 billion shekels (830 million dollars) per month, during a parliamentary discussion. This comes in the context of the economic repercussions of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Raul Sargo, the head of the Israeli Contractors Association, expressed the severe difficulties his sector is facing, with productivity reduced to only 30%, and work halted at half of the construction sites.
Since the operation “Al-Aqsa Typhoon” launched by Palestinian resistance on settlements in the Gaza periphery on October 7 last year, around 200,000 Palestinians have been prohibited from entering Israel, depriving the Palestinian market of liquidity amounting to 900 million shekels (243 million dollars) monthly from reaching their workplaces within Israel.
