Israel will be opening thousands of jobs for foreigners after many migrant workers left Tel Aviv due to the ongoing war between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.
But Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said that the deployment of Filipino workers depends on the Philippine government, which has placed Israel under Alert Level 2.
“We’re seeking globally to bring more workers for Israel. And we are offering the same thing also to the Philippines. But it depends on the Philippine government,” Fluss said in an interview with GMA News.
The Department of Foreign Affairs placed Israel under Alert 2 on Oct. 11, 2023, which restricted the deployment of Filipino workers there.
Fluss said Israelis prefer Filipino workers as their caregivers because Filipinos are good in English and are “the kindest people in the world.
“The sentiment is even stronger; meaning, even before October 7, Israelis prefer to have as caregivers Filipinos. Israelis very much like Filipinos, you know, English-speaking. Filipinos are the kindest people in the world,” he said.
Besides caregivers, other jobs also offered in Israel are in the hotel, agriculture, and construction industries.
While the Philippines wants its labor force to stay in the country, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that the 20,000 available jobs in Israel are a big help for Filipinos.
“Any additional job, especially the 20,000 that you mentioned, would be a great help for our countrymen,” Laguesma said.
The Israeli government said at least 10,000 foreign workers left Israel following the October 7 attacks.
Also, around 20,000 Palestinians from Gaza and West Bank were prohibited from working in Israel amid the war, according to Fluss.
Israel has been bombing targets across the Gaza Strip since Hamas fighters carried out a deadly attack on southern Israeli communities.