Israel Approves Fast-Track Program to Bring 2,000 Foreign Workers for Renovation Sector

After two years of slow progress and a government decision implemented at a sluggish pace, Israel's renovation sector is set to receive a boost through a new fast-track procedure for bringing in foreign workers. The Population and Immigration Authority recently approved a temporary regulation allowing the rapid entry of up to 2,000 foreign workers to support the renovation industry. This new route bypasses the previously sole bilateral agreement channel, which had proven inefficient.

The background to this development stems from a July 2024 decision by a special inter-ministerial committee that allocated a quota of 5,000 foreign workers for the renovation sub-sector of construction. This sector had faced severe labor shortages, especially after the ban on Palestinian workers following the October 7, 2023 events. However, the quota was limited to bilateral agreements with certain countries, resulting in only about 960 workers arriving over two years, many of whom were unsuitable or left their jobs.

Under the new procedure, 2,000 workers from the 5,000 quota can be brought in outside bilateral agreements. This is possible because authorized manpower corporations demonstrated their ability to recruit and bring workers quickly, even during ongoing conflict. The Population and Immigration Authority emphasized that efforts to implement and negotiate bilateral agreements will continue alongside this new measure.

Key conditions include a cap of 2,000 workers, entry allowed until February 1, 2027, recruitment only from countries rated Tier 1 or Tier 2 in the U.S. State Department’s annual human trafficking report, and applications only from licensed corporations. Workers must be males aged 21-45, physically and mentally healthy, with proven renovation skills, no criminal record, and no prior work experience in Israel. They may stay up to 63 months.

Eran Siv, chairman of the Association of Renovation Contractors, hailed the move as a major achievement, noting that bilateral agreements had failed to meet the sector’s needs due to insufficient quotas and unskilled workers. He expressed confidence that with corporations vetting workers alongside the association, the industry will soon receive skilled labor, significantly improving conditions.