“Indian Workers To Have Equal Treatment As Israeli Citizens”: Centre On Indian Labour In Israel

Responding to a question regarding the allegations of the safety concerns of Indian workers who are planning to take up jobs in Israel, the External Ministry today stated that the government has signed a framework Agreement and Implementation Protocol with Israel. Under the agreement, it said, the Indian workers shall enjoy equal treatment concerning labour rights as Israeli citizens. “Indian workers shall be provided with proper lodging, medical insurance, and relevant social security coverage,” the statement added.

To fill the labour shortage faced by Israel following the mass suspension of the work permits of the Palestinian workers, the Israel construction sector had in November 2023 demanded its government to facilitate the hiring process of one lakh workers from India to replace the Palestinian labourers. The Palestinian labourers were sent back after the October 7th attack by Hamas on Israel.

Following the demand for Indian workers in Israel, job seekers began to flock to the recruitment centres to leave for Israel for employment. As per reports, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have advertised for the many openings for construction workers, while some lists of those who will be sent to Israel were also finalised.

Despite having war, thousands of Indians continue to apply for jobs in Israel willing to risk their lives, with many saying that they are struggling to find jobs in India citing the soaring unemployment.

However, regarding the question of whether Indian workers are required to register on the Ministry’s “e-migrate” portal, the ministry said that the registration at e-migrate portal is mandatory only for Indian workers, holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, proceeding overseas employment to any of the 18 ECR countries, which does not include Israel.

The 18 countries for which emigration clearance is required for ECR passport holders and nurses travelling for work include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.