Bus Companies Seek Foreign Drivers as Shortage Tops 5,000

Israel’s public transport sector is weighing two stopgap solutions to a severe driver shortage, more than eight months after the issue first came under review. The system is short of more than 5,000 drivers, and companies say the shortage is already causing missed service, unserved trips and penalties.

At the special committee on foreign workers this week, chair MK Hava Eti Atia said the public transport companies pay about 200 million shekels a year in fines for failures including service not provided, trips not operated and drivers not stopping at stations. Industry representatives say those problems stem from the lack of drivers.

At the end of May, Idan Mualem, head of the National Public Transport Authority, asked the Prime Minister’s Office and its director-general committee on foreign workers to recognize public transport as an industry allowed to import foreign drivers. He did not give figures, but said the authority does not oppose the move and would like to run a pilot. Ministry of Transport representative Gabi Navon said Mualem wants to examine the option, which is favored by the larger transport companies.

While waiting for that process, the ministry is also considering designating public transport driving as a “preferred job” for discharged soldiers. The drivers’ unions strongly oppose this, saying it would worsen instability by bringing in workers looking for short-term jobs. They argued the government should instead raise pay, tackle violence against drivers and settle seniority rules, which they say are the main barriers to recruiting Israelis.

Union representative Itai Cohen of Koach LaOvdim accused the ministry of acting “in the service of the company owners” and wanting to import “cheap, weakened and unorganized labor migrants.” The Histadrut Leumit also backed the unions, saying resources should go to retaining existing drivers. Any decision will still require Justice Ministry approval, because importing foreign workers into public transport needs a change in the law.