According to the CEO, “As of today, approximately 73,000 foreign workers have arrived in Israel through all channels, the highest number recorded to date.” Morgenstern further emphasized that “the steps we have taken in the industry, led by Minister Haim Katz, through the private track, are yielding results on the ground. The approved quota stands at approximately 110,000, but the gap necessitates continued accelerated action.” He also noted that “with the end of the fighting, there is an increase in interest in the call for proposals for foreign companies, and data from the field shows that the private track is working well after adjustments were made according to the industry’s needs.”
The CEO added that “the construction duration in Israel has increased and currently stands at approximately 38 months on average, and increasing the workforce in the industry is a key condition for shortening timelines and increasing the actual supply of apartments.”
The committee chair, MK Eti Hava Attia, emphasized during the discussion the critical need to reduce fees in the construction industry and also mentioned that she is submitting a bill that will reduce the annual fees for foreign workers, ease the burden on employers, and encourage legal and fair employment.
Director General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing, Yehuda Morgenstern:
“I thank the committee chair, MK Eti Hava Attia, for the diligent work for the benefit of the construction industry. To accelerate construction and increase the supply of apartments, we must continue to expand the foreign worker system. This means integrating additional bilateral agreements, increasing the pool of foreign companies, extending and deepening the private track, and reducing bureaucracy and fees. Under the leadership of Minister Haim Katz, we have taken significant steps, but there is still work to be done to reach the pace the economy needs.”