Israel hotel sector hires  more Filipino workers

CEBU, Philippines —  Israel’s tourism industry continues to hire more Filipinos to work in the country’s hospitality companies, this according to the Israel Embassy in the Philippines.

In his recent visit to Cebu, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss reiterated his call for Pinoy hospitality workers to work in Israel’s tourism industry, as travel restrictions in the historical country are easing up.

Bulk of jobs are in housekeeping services, which pays a minimum of US$1,500 a month.

About three weeks ago, the Embassy facilitated the departure of 61 Filipinos to work in hospitality sector in Israel, Fluss said his country needs more Filipinos to join its fast recovering tourism industry. 

Initially, the quota is 2,000 Filipinos allowed to work in the hospitality sector. The hiring, however, would depend on the demand for hospitality-related jobs in the country. Around 500 Filipino hotel workers were hired for the initial phase.

“It is the first time that Israel is opening the hotel industry to foreign labor. The foreign labor is very regulated,” he said.

A result of government-to-government deal between the Israeli government and the Philippines in 2018 under the Duterte administration, hiring of Filipino hospitality workers in Israel was opened ditching the existence of employment brokers or middlemen.

Interested applicants are advised to coordinate with the Philippine Overseas and Employment Authority (POEA).

Under the same labor agreement, signed during the 2018 visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Jerusalem, the two governments are also facilitating the hiring of Filipino caregivers to Israel.

At present, there are around 30,000 Filipinos employed as caregivers there, said Fluss.

Fluss said Israel has specific sectors that are open for specific nationals. Agriculture is Thai workers. Healthcare used to be only for Filipinos, now it’s open for Moldova, Sri Lanka, and Nepal for old age homes and institutions.

The Israeli envoy was in Cebu last week for a two-day visit expressing his country’s commitment to pursue stronger ties with local government units (LGUs), government agencies and the business sector.