Labour9/20/2026

Number of Foreign Workers Doubled Amid Lax Oversight

Due to the labor shortage following the outbreak of the war, the Israeli government decided in May 2024 to expedite an increase in the foreign-worker quota. By the end of 2025, the number of foreign nationals working legally had risen from 111,132 to 227,044, while inadequate oversight created conditions for violations of their rights.

Key facts

•Government decision: May 2024
•Quota cap: 330,000 workers
•New workers: 116,117 people
•Legal workers: increase from 111,132 to 227,044
•Entry data: through the end of 2025
•Publication: September 20, 2026

Why the Quota Was Increased

The government responded to the labor shortage caused by the war. The decision, titled “Streamlining and Improving Oversight and Enforcement in the Employment of Foreign Workers,” set a cap of 330,000 people and expanded the list of sectors in which workers may be employed.

How Many Workers Arrived

From the beginning of the war through the end of 2025, 116,117 new foreign workers entered Israel. The number of foreign nationals working legally more than doubled—from 111,132 to 227,044 people.

The Risks of Lax Oversight

According to the description of the report provided, lax oversight contributes to violations, including delays in wage payments and high payments to intermediaries. The consequences of exploitation may be especially severe: a worker may lose legal status, be detained, and be deported. The source does not specify in the available excerpt the number of inspectors, the exact payment amounts, or information about the sanctions imposed.

What this means for you

For foreign workers and the citizens who employ them, the market’s rapid expansion increases the importance of formal employment, timely wage payments, and transparent accounting with intermediaries. In cases of violations, a worker may face not only financial losses but also problems with immigration status, including detention and deportation.

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