Finance Minister Yair Lapid met this week with leaders of Israel’s construction industry. Nissim Bavlil and Eliav Ben-Shimon, leaders of the nation’s construction association, met with the senior minister to explain the manpower difficulties that they face in the industry. Lapid suggests that they turn to the chareidi sector as a manpower option.
The minister explains that a recent decision to change eligibility criteria for young couples seeking government subsidized housing will compel chareidim to work. He told them that while in the past administration the number of years one is married worked in one’s favor, today, the criteria addresses the requirement that an applicant works.
The two explained that in the very near future they will be announcing the opening of training courses for the chareidi sector, including building electrician. The industry leaders explained they hope there will be a positive response towards alleviating the manpower shortage in the industry. Bavlil told Lapid there is also a shortage of project managers in the construction industry, stating “thousands are needed”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
probably for the same reason very few hilonim work in construction (leaving the field to lower class Arabs and non-Jewish illegal immigrants).
The pay is poor relative to the demands of the job.
If Lapid were serious, he would ask why his neighbors don’t rush into construction (other than as managers)
This loathsome self hating Jew should realize the shomray torah u’mitzvos could work anywhere as long as the DIB govt allows them to do so.
It is amazing what a person will do to skowly destroy the beauty of yiddishkeit. Lapid is the flame that if not politically extinguished will become a wildfire totally destrroying even the most basic. Parts of yiddishkeit. We gotta continue davening.
There are two major reasons there is a manpower shortage in construction. The first is that all those who would be suited for the work are wasting their time playing at being a soldier for three years and the second is low wages.
If pretty boy were really interested in developing the economy he would focus his efforts on creating a professional army. This would release hundreds of thousands of people to the work force and save Billions of Shekels in tax money. Instead he uses every occasion he can expressing his hatred for Torah Jews and ultimately his contempt for all sectors of the country.
I am not a fan of Mr. Lapid, yet his suggestion is for training as electricians and construction managers.
When I lived in HarNof, all our electrical work was completed by Shomrei Mitzvoh individuals who were proud of their skills and earning well plus some job sites were managed by frum individuals. When seeking parnossah the plan is to pick a fulfilling occupation combining innate skills, interests, ability, pay scale with what is needed in your area. There are many Bnei Torah who are skilled manually (handy men, plumbing, electrical, renovations, carpenters) and proud of it.
Let’s take a look at our history as slaves in Egypt. First Pharaoh requested some lite additional taxes followed by some “volunteer” part time duties. And we know the rest of the story of slavery…. We can compare many similarities from Egypt while at the same time notice some big differences. Those that are Chareidi must do work, not as a form of slavery, but as a means to limit welfare and attain a source of income for their family. The Beis Medrash is a place that should be considered a second home, however, as it occurred for myself, the Beis Medrash doesn’t put bread on the table for the family.
@RBS Yid
I have to disagree with you on that one.