Dozens more Sri Lankans leave to work in Israel and replace Palestinian roles

by admin
Oct 30, 2024

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) announced that another group of Sri Lankans are leaving to work in Israel today, to make up for vacancies that were previously occupied by Palestinians, after Israel enforced sweeping revocation of worker permits in several sectors.

SLFEB spokesperson Madushan Kularatne said that in spite of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and Lebanon, Sri Lankans working in Israel would be “safe”. A total of 61 persons would be leaving for Israel today and in the coming weeks.

All will be working in the agriculture sector. Israel’s farms, particularly in the central and southern regions, have traditionally relied on thousands of Thai and Palestinian workers to cultivate the land and bring in harvests. However, following the Hamas assault on October 7, many Thai workers fled the country, and Palestinian workers have been largely banned from the workforce. This shortage of labor has led Israeli farms to issue urgent calls for workers to help with the harvest.

The deepening of trade and diplomatic ties comes even as Sri Lanka claimed that it has demanded an immediate ceasefire and a supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Sri Lanka has however continued to maintain its relationship with Israel, especially in the labour sector.

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