Israel recruits youths from African soil for farm work amid ongoing war
Employment opportunities are cropping up for agricultural workers in rural parts of Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas, which has led to a shortage of agricultural workers within its borders. In response, many African countries, including Kenya and Malawi, have stepped in to help fill this gap by sending thousands of young Africans to work on farms and orchards in the war-torn country.
Farm workers pick vegetables on a farm in Rancho Santa Fe, California on August 31, 2016.
The Israeli government has been recruiting laborers from African countries for over three months.
The workers will be allegedly paid a guaranteed net monthly income of $1,500.
To mitigate its farm worker shortage, Israel is also recruiting workers from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
According to multiple reports, the Israeli government has been recruiting laborers from African countries for over three months. Malawi, in an effort to secure these opportunities amidst competition from other countries formalized the labor export agreement with Israel officially on February 15.
The report noted that a fact-finding mission by the Malawian government to Israel reported positive feedback from Malawian workers despite some challenges related to pay disparities, overtime compensation, and sanitation facilities. In response, the government is planning to send more young people who, it is alleged, will get paid a guaranteed net [monthly] income of $1,500.
Kenya has already sent 1,500 workers, while 221 from Malawi have also travelled to Israel
Last year, BBC reported that Israel’s strategy to mitigate its farm worker shortage extended beyond Malawi, with labourers also recruited from East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania. Despite concerns over the humanitarian impact of the conflict, the labour ministry in Kenya claimed the program benefits both countries as it offers economic and educational opportunities for Kenyan workers.
According to the labour ministry, 1500 Kenyan workers will be deployed on three-year renewable contracts, “with a guaranteed net [monthly] income” of $1,500 (£1,195). Some Kenyans supported this agreement, saying it provides employment opportunities at a time when the East African country is battling an unemployment crisis and rising cost of living.
Israel’s ambassador in Kenya, Michael Lotem, told the BBC that Israel was planning to recruit farm workers from Uganda as well, while recruitment in Tanzania had already started.
“We are looking to East Africa to fill the labour gap as we have had student internships programmes in place for many years with these countries and it has been a good experience,” Mr Lotem said.
He added that the labour shortage had been caused by the fact that an estimated 360,000 Israeli reservists have been called up for military service since the war started.
The labour agreement, expected to engage around 100,000 foreign workers in Israel, has sparked criticism with concerns raised over the safety of foreign labourers in a region fraught with conflict.
Michael Lotem, however, assured the public that the safety of the workers is a priority, clarifying that they will not be stationed in conflict zones like Gaza and will enjoy the same security measures as Israeli citizens.
