1st batch of Pinoy hotel workers set to leave for Israel
THE first batch of Filipinos who were hired to work in the hotel industry in Israel are set to leave next week, the Israeli Ambassador to Manila said yesterday.
Israeli Ambassador to Manila llan Fluss said initially, about 500 Filipino hotel workers will leave for Israel on May 31.
“The first batch of Filipino workers in the tourism industry the hotel industry are going to Israel. And actually it is the first time that Israel is opening the hotel industry to foreign labor,” he stressed.
Fluss explained the initial deployment of 100 Filipino hotel workers is like a “trial period,” adding Israel is still open to hire more if the market requires.
Processing of the documents for the said group of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are being done on a government to government arrangement so that applicants need not pay huge placement fees, which are usually charged by recruiters.
The Ambassador assured that the rights of foreign workers in Israel are monitored and protected pointing out that they are entitled to medical insurance, pension fund and all their social rights are respected.
Filipino tourists are allowed to enter and stay in Israel for 90 days even without visa.
With Israel’s easing of restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic, more foreign travelers are expected to visit the country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said more than 33,000 Filipino pilgrims and tourists visited the Holy Land before the pandemic in 2019. By CRISTINA LEE-PISCO
