“Runaway” Foreign Workers

The runaway phenomenon is a “state-wide plague” in certain sectors, but employers should not bear the cost. If you encounter refusal to release a deposit for an abandoned worker, do not wait three years. Seek professional legal advice to explore the possibility of reclaiming your funds—right now.

Who is a “Runaway”

A “runaway” is a foreign worker who enters Israel legally through one of the existing channels and is employed by a specific employer, but at some point abandons their workplace without prior notice and without legal arrangements regarding their status with the new employer or authorities.

The reasons for leaving (“running away”) are usually economic:

Wage incentives: Many workers are tempted to work for “pirate” employers or subcontractors offering higher cash wages (“under the table”) without taxes or insurance.
Cost-saving: Pirate employers do not pay fees and levies, allowing them to offer higher net wages at the expense of legality.
Misinformation: Sometimes workers are misled by acquaintances in the foreign community who promise easier or more profitable work outside the legal framework.

Can and When is a Worker Allowed to “Run Away”?

Passport retention prohibited: Employers are strictly prohibited from holding a worker’s passport as leverage. Violating this is a serious criminal offense.
Freedom to resign: A worker cannot be forced to continue working and is entitled to resign with proper notice under the law.

How to Get Deposit Back

These procedures are not published and are generally unknown. In practice, a request for deposit return can only be made in one of two situations:

The worker leaves Israel.
A prolonged period elapses (usually three years) from the date of reporting the abandonment.
Don’t Wait – Go to Court

Our 5 Main Recommendations

Ensure agreements comply with the law (special agreements are required for foreign workers) and reflect the nature of employment in Israel.
Pay employees the wages agreed upon in the permit application and employment contract.
Never hold workers’ passports; they must remain with the worker at all times.
Maintain good personal relations with workers; it helps in understanding the situation if abandonment occurs.
Provide suitable housing per your commitments to the state and workers.
More information and details read in our blog article