Thousands of jobs await Filipinos in Israel once Alert Level 2 is lifted

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines announced the opening of thousands of jobs for foreign workers as many migrant workers have left Tel Aviv due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

However, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said the deployment of Filipino workers depends on the Philippine government, which has placed Israel under Alert Level 2.

“We're seeking globally to bring more workers for Israel. And we are offering the same thing also to the Philippines. But it depends on the Philippine government,” Fluss said in Raffy Tima’s report on Unang Balita on Thursday.

On October 11, 2023, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) placed Israel under Alert Level 2 which restricted the deployment of Filipino workers there.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the DFA and the Department of Migrants Workers (DMW) regarding the possibility of lifting the Alert Level 2 but they have yet to provide a statement.

Fluss said Israelis prefer Filipino workers as their caregivers because Filipinos are good in English and are “the kindest people in the world.”

“The sentiment is even stronger. Meaning, even before October 7, Israelis prefer to have as caregivers Filipinos. Israelis very much like Filipinos, you know, English-speaking. Filipinos are the kindest people in the world,” he said.

Aside from caregivers, other jobs also offered in Israel are in hotel, agriculture, and construction industries.

While the Philippines wants its labor force to stay in the country, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that the 20,000 available jobs in Israel are a big help for Filipinos.

“Any additional job, especially nabanggit mo [na] 20,000, malaking bahagi iyan na ika nga ay makakaluwag doon po sa mga kababayan natin,” he said.

(Any additional job, especially the 20,000 that you mentioned, would be a great help for our countrymen.)

Due to the war that started on October 7, 2023, the Israeli government said 10,000 foreign workers have left Israel. 

Also, around 20,000 Palestinians from Gaza and West Bank were prohibited from working in Israel amid the war, according to Fluss.

Israel has been bombing targets across the Gaza Strip since Hamas fighters carried out a deadly attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7.

About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the Hamas attacks and 240 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Since October 7, at least 25,295 Palestinians have been killed based on the update of Gaza health authorities, Reuters reported on January 22, 2024. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News