Israel to Limit Private Hiring of Construction Workers from India, Sri Lanka

Starting January 1, 2027, Israel's Population and Immigration Authority will cease the private recruitment of construction workers from India and Sri Lanka. Recruitment from these two nations will subsequently be permitted only through intergovernmental agreements, according to a report by Calcalist. This decision stems from concerns regarding human trafficking.

Private recruitment will continue for workers from other countries, including Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Vietnam, the Philippines, Romania, Thailand, and Turkey. The construction industry's staffing agencies have voiced opposition to the new regulations. An association representing approximately 160 companies argues that the bilateral mechanism will not supply the sector with an adequate number of skilled laborers. They contend that private recruitment allows for pre-selection and professional testing in the workers' home countries, reducing arrival times from four to six months down to two to four months.

Industry representatives also warn that shifting recruitment to other countries could escalate recruitment costs and wages, ultimately driving up construction expenses. The Population and Immigration Authority stated that the private recruitment of foreign construction workers is not ending entirely and will proceed within existing quotas. The authority noted that since the war's commencement, around 76,000 new foreign construction workers have arrived in Israel, and approximately 90,000 foreign construction workers are currently employed in the country, roughly three times the number before the conflict.