Minister of Industry & Trade Eli Yishai submitted a document that calls for bringing an end to employing foreign construction industry workers by 2010.

According to the document, contractors wishing to employ foreign workers will be compelled to bring them personally since manpower agencies will no longer be permitted to bring foreign workers. The law will only permit bringing foreign experts, who must be paid a salary commensurate with their qualifications, not just hired hands or regular workers receiving a base salary.

Working towards achieving that end, beginning immediately, foreign construction workers employed more than 9 months will become regular salaried employees in a firm, demanding they receive a higher salary and benefits, which makes their employment less desirable. This ministry officials are confident will result in the reduction in foreign workers in the construction trade in Israel.

The decision was implement a number of years ago ministry officials explain, and now, they are enforcing the decision aimed at providing additional jobs for the local workforce.  Ministry officials add that with the influx of PA workers, there is no need for foreign workers at present.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)