Kenya’s labour ministry has announced the deployment of 1,500 farm workers to Israel, following in the footsteps of Malawi, which sent 221 young workers to Israeli farms recently. These workers will be engaged in three-year renewable contracts, ensuring a guaranteed net income of $1,500 (£1,195), according to the labour ministry’s statement.
Israel has sought labour from Africa to address a significant shortage caused by the departure of over 10,000 migrant farm workers, primarily Thai nationals, since the beginning of the conflict with Hamas in early October. Palestinian workers, constituting almost 20% of the agricultural labour force before the conflict, have also been barred from entering Israel.
The need for 30-40,000 farm workers in Israel, as stated by the country’s agriculture ministry, has led to the recruitment of foreign labour. However, the move has sparked mixed reactions in Kenya, with concerns raised about the safety and working conditions of the deployed workers.
The recent attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 resulted in the death of at least 32 Thai farm workers, raising apprehensions about the security of foreign labour in the region. Critics have questioned the conditions these workers might face, recalling past reports of unsafe working practices and inadequate living conditions for migrant farm workers in Israel.
A 2018 investigation exposed instances of overwork, underpayment, and unexplained deaths among foreign farm workers. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have previously expressed concerns about the treatment of foreign labourers in Israel. However, the Israeli government has consistently maintained that foreign workers have the same employment rights as Israeli citizens.
While some Kenyans have welcomed the job opportunities provided by the agreement, others remain wary of potential risks and working conditions. With Kenya grappling with an unemployment crisis and a rising cost of living, the deal has been viewed as a source of much-needed employment. The country currently faces an unemployment rate of 5.5%, according to the World Bank.
Kiki Garba
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