By KTA News Team |
A nationwide strike began today, April 6, at the Foreign Workers Administration within Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority. The unit responsible for issuing work permits and visas is now on strike, significantly slowing immigration processes throughout the country. It remains unclear how long the strike will last.
The strike comes in response to overwhelming pressure placed on employees due to the sharp rise in demand for foreign workers since the outbreak of the war. Despite a dramatic increase in responsibilities, the number of staff has not been expanded, leaving existing employees under severe strain.
Since the war began, the number of licensed manpower agencies has surged from 49 to 280, and the quota for foreign workers has more than doubled—from 30,000 to 70,000. New sectors, including infrastructure, renovations, and hospitality, have also been added to those authorized to employ foreign workers.
Employees are also dealing with a substantial increase in the volume of financial guarantees and deposits they are required to manage. Projects such as biometric registration for foreign workers have further added to their workload without proper consultation or additional resources.
The labor shortage stems largely from the absence of approximately 80,000 Palestinian workers, along with tens of thousands of unauthorized workers who had previously entered Israel. The government halted legal entry for Palestinian workers at the start of the war, and many illegal workers also returned to their places of residence. While some have reportedly returned, the shortage remains critical.
To compensate, the government approved a significant expansion of foreign worker quotas—placing the responsibility for implementation on the already-overburdened Authority staff. According to the Bank of Israel, the construction sector still lacks around 20,000 workers compared to pre-war levels.
This shortage has had a widespread impact on Israel’s economy. Construction timelines have been severely affected, with some projects brought to a standstill. Contractors report cumulative delays of approximately 247 workdays since the war began, potentially resulting in financial losses and legal disputes.
Industry leaders are calling on the government to intervene urgently. They warn that without swift action to streamline visa issuance and support the work of the Population and Immigration Authority, both the housing and infrastructure sectors will continue to suffer severe delays.
