Kenyan and Malawian agricultural workers are expected in Israel to partially fill the labor shortage caused by the war against Hamas.
About 1,500 Kenyan farmers will soon fly to Israel. The decision was announced by Kenya’s labor ministry on Wednesday. The employees will work on the basis of three-year renewable contracts, ensuring a net monthly income of 1,500 dollars, the ministry said.
This announcement comes almost two weeks after Malawi sent 221 young people to work on Israeli farms, a decision which sparked widespread outcry in the country.
Israel, struggling with a significant agricultural labor shortage, has turned to Africa for help.
More than 10,000 migrant workers, mainly from Thailand, have left the country since the conflict with Hamas began in October. Palestinian workers, who make up nearly 20% of the agricultural workforce, are barred from entry.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 160,000 workers from the West Bank have already lost their jobs in Israel “due to restrictions on Palestinian access to the Israeli labor market and closures of crossing points from the West Bank to Israel and the colonies.”
The labor shortage is mainly due to the approximately 360,000 Israeli reservists called up for military service since the start of the conflict. Israel’s agriculture ministry says it needs 30,000 to 40,000 agricultural workers.
Mixed reactions in Kenya
The announcement sparked mixed reactions in Kenya, where there are concerns about worker safety. Critics question the conditions African workers may face in Israel, pointing to previous reports of unsafe practices and unsanitary living conditions.
The Israeli ambassador to Kenya, Michael Lotem, spoke about the measures put in place to guarantee the fair treatment of foreign workers. He says workers will have the opportunity to file complaints if problems arise and that those complaints will be responded to quickly. However, it is essential that these guarantees are followed by concrete actions to prevent any form of exploitation or mistreatment.
Supporters of the deal argue that it provides crucial employment opportunities amid Kenya’s labor market crisis.
The number of jobless Kenyans has doubled during a decade of economic growth fueled by infrastructure and faster adoption of technology, which has left East Africa’s largest economy with the highest unemployment rate in the region.
World Bank data shows that 5.7% of Kenya’s workforce was unemployed in 2021, compared to 2.8% when the Jubilee administration took power in 2013.