Israel has deported 17 Sri Lankan immigrant workers who violated their employment agreements, according to Sri Lankan Ambassador Nimal Bandara.
The ambassador stated that these individuals had arrived in Israel on agricultural work visas but were arrested by authorities while working in bakeries. He emphasized that Israel is highly vigilant regarding foreign workers and their compliance with visa regulations.
Israeli authorities clarified that foreign workers are not legally allowed to switch from the visa category under which they entered the country to another category during their stay.
Additionally, the Sri Lankan ambassador mentioned that a Sri Lankan woman who had come to Israel a year ago for nursing work was also deported for violating the terms of her employment.
Previously, Israeli authorities had deported another Sri Lankan national who had been accused of theft.
Israel’s decision to recruit foreign workers followed the expulsion of thousands of Palestinian laborers after the Hamas attack on October 7 last year. This created job openings for workers from nations such as India and Sri Lanka. Seizing the opportunity, Sri Lanka sent workers to Israel to take up roles in the construction and agriculture sectors.
However, some Sri Lankan workers in the agriculture industry have raised concerns about their working conditions. Issues reported include insufficient facilities and the physically demanding nature of farm work. Several workers have sought assistance from the Sri Lankan mission in Tel Aviv, expressing interest in transitioning to other industries.
