By Amit Acco, Partner |

The Israeli tourism industry suffers from a lack of manpower, which was exacerbated during the Corona crisis. In order to overcome the difficulty, the Ministry of Interior decided to use foreign workers for the hotel sector.

The need is backed up by procedures that are anchored in government decisions. The procedures were shaped and led by the Ministry of Tourism together with the Population and Immigration Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Labour Branch, and the Ministry of Health

Employment approval for these workers is given for the purpose of performing housekeeping work, cleaning public areas, and cleaning kitchens in the hotel.

Today there are 3 types of foreign workers employed in the field:

1. Filipino workers: 2,000 workers nationwide. Today we are dealing with the distribution of the third pulse for more information:

The continuation of the procedure for the allocation of permits to receive foreign workers for the hotel industry will be conducted with the Population and Immigration Authority, according to the procedure that appears on the Population and Immigration Authority.

The Ministry of Tourism’s recommendations will be formulated based on the criteria that appear on the Ministry of Tourism’s website and will be forwarded to the hotel accommodation facilities and the Population and Immigration Authority.

Hotel accommodation facilities that are interested in receiving the Ministry of Tourism’s recommendation for permits to employ foreign workers are requested to submit an application.

2. Jordanian workers in Eilat: 2,000 workers who arrive every day from Jordan and return home at the end of the working day.

3. Palestinian workers: 2,000 Palestinian workers in the hotel industry throughout the country. It should be emphasized that for the purpose of employing a Palestinian worker in Israel, it is not enough for the employer to have an employment permit, as he must also obtain an entry permit to Israel.