Tel Aviv Bakery Branch Shut Down Again for Employing Unauthorized Workers

A branch of the Abulafia bakery in Tel Aviv has been ordered to close for 30 days by the commander of the Tel Aviv district police. The closure follows a surprise inspection on Monday where authorities found three workers from the territories employed without permits. An investigation has also been launched against the owner.

This is not the first time the branch has faced such a closure. In June, seven undocumented workers were found at the same location, leading to a 30-day closure order. However, the owner appealed to the court, and the closure was shortened to approximately two weeks.

Following the previous closure, Mahmoud Abulafia, identified as the owner, stated that the incident involved an external staffing company and that he fully cooperated with authorities. He had stated, "From the moment I learned of the suspicions, I cooperated fully with all relevant parties."

The current closure raises questions about whether the business has changed its hiring practices since the previous incident. Authorities have not yet clarified how the workers were hired or if the same external company was involved. The bakery faces another investigation and lost business days, though the 30-day closure may again be shortened by a court order, as it was previously.

To understand the outcome of this second closure, it remains to be seen what happened with the first investigation and what steps the owner will take in response to the new order.