Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry has announced a new quota allowing 1,500 unskilled workers from Sri Lanka to enter the country, a measure designed to strengthen the industrial sector. The initiative is part of a bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka and seeks to ease labor shortages that have slowed production and stifled innovation in recent years.
“Every day of labor shortage is a day of harm to production and innovation,” said Moti Hagay, Director General of the ministry, emphasizing the urgency of the move. Priority for the new workers will be given to industrial plants with 20 or more employees, separate production sites, and small enterprises that had previously employed Palestinian workers.
This program is intended to complement ongoing efforts to recruit tens of thousands of foreign workers from both India and Sri Lanka across multiple sectors in Israel. Officials view the initiative as a critical step toward maintaining industrial productivity and supporting economic growth in the face of persistent workforce challenges.
