Israeli construction contractors are urging the government to expedite its decision to import construction workers from China. Following the current wave of terrorism, the contractors are concerned about a possible closure in Judea and Samaria and its anticipated future effect on the building sector.
In a letter sent today to Minister of the Interior Silvan Shalom, the Israel Builders Association called on Shalom to quickly implement the decision to import 20,000 construction workers from China.
The letter stated, "At the present time, Israel and its people are facing a difficult situation, with a series of individual security events directed against the people and their feeling of security. These security events have direct negative consequences for the feelings of certainty and stability, which are an essential element in Israeli contractors' business. This concern is being justified by the lack of clarity, given the dependence and reliance on Palestinian workers for wet jobs in the construction sector.
"Past experience shows that situations like the current one were followed by a prolonged closure on Judea and Samaria that prevented Palestinian workers from coming to work in Israel and paralyzed various construction sites, while causing irreversible damage to the government efforts and measures involving the housing market and construction in general, as well as damage to businesses in the sector and apartment buyers," the contractors wrote.
The letter, signed by Israel Builders Association president Nissim Bublil and also sent to Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon, housing cabinet chairman Avigdor Yitzhaki, and Ministry of the Interior Population, Immigration and Border Authority director general Amnon Ben-Ami, went on to say, "In order to respond to the growing feeling of uncertainty and reduce the dependence on Palestinian workers at a time like this, we appeal to you urgently to immediately instruct the various parties in your office (the Population, Immigration and Border Authority. O.C.) and the various related government ministries to take immediate action to implement the cabinet decision to recruit 20,000 construction workers from China, while eliminating bureaucracy at these levels.
"There is no doubt that the earlier the government decision is carried out and the professional Chinese workers are recruited for Israel, the more the heavy damage caused to the construction market and the Israeli economy can be minimized in the event of a decision to impose closure and prevent Palestinian workers from working at construction sites in Israel. It looks like this is not the time to dawdle; action should be taken to carry out the government decision in this matter as soon as possible."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 14, 2015
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