“Unraveling Promises: The Troubling Reality of India’s Job Scheme in Israel”
The Israeli job scheme for Indian workers, initially seen as a promising opportunity, is unraveling due to significant issues related to faulty selection processes and a lack of essential skills among the workers. Here are the key details surrounding this situation:
Overview of the Scheme
- The job scheme was launched to fill labor shortages in Israel’s construction sector, particularly after the country restricted the hiring of Palestinian workers following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
- Indian workers were promised salaries of up to ₹1.9 lakh per month (approximately $2,300), which attracted many to seek employment abroad
Issues Identified
- Skill Mismatch: An investigation revealed that many workers, particularly those recruited through the Government-to-Government (G2G) pathway, lacked the necessary skills for construction jobs. Many were young individuals, some as young as 20, who had never worked in construction and came from backgrounds in farming or other unrelated fields. Reports indicated that some workers did not even know how to handle basic tools like hammers
- High Return Rates: Approximately 500 to 600 workers have returned to India due to their inability to perform the jobs they were recruited for. This situation has led to complaints from Israeli contractors about the unsuitability of the workers, resulting in a “terrible” situation where builders refused to let them work on construction sites.
- Policy Changes: In response to the crisis, the Israeli government has allowed these workers to be redeployed into unskilled jobs in sectors such as cleaning and loading-unloading to mitigate potential damage to diplomatic relations with India. However, this has further complicated the situation, as it has led to a perception that Indian workers are not suited for skilled labour.
Recruitment Process Concerns
- The recruitment involved two pathways: G2G through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Business-to-Business (B2B) through private agencies. Despite multiple rounds of professional tests conducted in India, the outcomes have been criticized as insufficiently rigorous, leading to a mismatch between the skills assessed and the actual capabilities of the workers.
- Israeli construction executives have called for a “course correction,” indicating the need for improved strategic planning and better pre-departure training for workers. They noted that the initial batches of B2B workers performed better than those from the G2G pathway, which has led to a decline in the reputation of Indian labor in Israel
Consequences for Indian Labor
- The fallout from this situation has been significant. The reputation of Indian workers has suffered, with Israeli builders becoming hesitant to hire Indian laborers, preferring workers from other countries such as China and Moldova. This shift could have long-term implications for India’s labor export strategies and its standing in international labor markets.
- Additionally, contractors and clients have canceled visas for around 2,000 Indian workers due to the negative experiences associated with the G2G recruits, further impacting the opportunities available for skilled Indian labor abroad.
Impact on Reputation and Policy Changes
- The skill mismatch has negatively impacted the reputation of Indian labor abroad, with Israeli builders becoming wary of hiring Indian workers and preferring workers from other countries like China and Moldova.
- In response to the crisis, Israel’s Population & Immigration Authority issued a note allowing the employment of these workers in non-construction roles, such as factories, cleaning, and loading-unloading, to mitigate the impact on bilateral relations with India.
- However, this policy change has created further complications, as many workers are now opting for industrial jobs over construction, exacerbating staffing shortages in both areas.
Conclusion
The unraveling of the Israeli job scheme for Indian workers highlights critical flaws in the recruitment and training processes. Addressing these issues is essential not only for restoring the reputation of Indian labor abroad but also for ensuring that future recruitment efforts are successful and beneficial for both workers and employers.