16,000 Indian Labourers Employed In Israel's Construction Sector As Palestinian Workers Barred Post-Hamas Attack

The recent Israel-Hamas conflict, ignited by the unprecedented intrusion of Hamas into Israel on 7 October 2023, has created a significant labour shortage in the country’s construction sector. 

With Palestinian construction workers, who traditionally made up a substantial portion of the workforce, now barred from entering Israel, the industry faces a shortfall that is estimated to be in the tens of thousands.

In response to this gap, the Israeli government and recruiting agencies have turned to India, tapping into its vast pool of labourers to meet the demand in the construction sector. 

Approximately 16,000 Indian workers have already arrived in Israel to fill this void, with many earning up to three times the wages they would receive in their home country. Israel has further plans to bring in thousands more, signalling a substantial shift in the labour dynamics of the region.

Indians have long been employed in Israel, primarily as caregivers for the elderly, as well as in roles within the diamond trade and IT sector. However, the current crisis has opened up new opportunities, particularly in construction.

Samir Khosla, Chairman of Delhi-based Dynamic Staffing Services, reports having sent over 3,500 workers to Israel, marking a new venture for his company in a sector that was once dominated by Palestinians.

Despite this influx of Indian workers, Israeli experts argue that the current number still falls short of filling the gap left by Palestinian labourers. Before the conflict, approximately 80,000 Palestinians were employed in the construction industry, with an additional 26,000 foreign workers. 

Today, the workforce has shrunk to about 30,000 foreign labourers, leading to a 25 per cent drop in construction activity in the third quarter of 2024. The challenge remains to restore full capacity in this critical sector.

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