In a significant development for Israel’s agricultural sector, the country is now welcoming many farm workers from Africa. This move comes in the aftermath of the recent conflict with Hamas, which led to a drastic reduction in the agricultural labour force.
The conflict, which erupted on October 7, saw the departure of over 10,000 foreign workers, predominantly from Thailand, with the unfortunate loss of life for more than 30 of these workers.
The Israeli farming industry, which previously relied on Palestinian labour for about 20% of its workforce, has had to adapt following the government’s ban on Palestinian workers in this sector. Further exacerbating the labour shortage, many Israeli reservists, totalling around 360,000, have been called back to military service.
This acute shortage has necessitated the employment of approximately 30,000 to 40,000 workers to sustain agricultural operations. In response, Israel has reached out to African nations for support. Kenya has responded by sending 1,500 workers, and Malawi has contributed 221 workers. These individuals are employed under three-year contracts that can be renewed, earning a net monthly income of about $1,500.
Michael Lotem, Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, highlighted that Israel is expanding its recruitment efforts to include workers from Uganda and has started incorporating workers from Tanzania.
This initiative is an extension of the longstanding student internship programs with East African countries, which have been successful. The high unemployment rates in countries like Malawi are a key factor motivating young Africans to seek employment opportunities in foreign lands.
Concerns about safety and living conditions in Israel, especially in light of the ongoing conflict, have been raised by the incoming African workers.
Addressing these concerns, Ambassador Lotem assured that the workers would be placed in areas away from conflict zones and afforded the same protection as Israeli nationals. This strategy marks a pivotal approach by Israel to sustain its agricultural productivity during these challenging times.
