Kenya’s labor ministry has announced the dispatch of 1,500 farm laborers to Israel amid the ongoing Hamas conflict.
This development follows Malawi’s dispatch of 221 young individuals to work on Israeli farms, which caused a backlash against the government nearly two weeks ago.
The casual workers will serve on renewable three-year contracts, securing a guaranteed net income of $1,500 (£1,195), as disclosed by the labor ministry.
Israel faces a significant labor shortage on its farms due to the departure of over 10,000 migrant farm workers, primarily Thai nationals, since the commencement of the Hamas conflict in early October.
Palestinian workers, formerly constituting almost 20% of the agricultural labor force in Israel, have been prohibited from working due to the conflict.
According to Israel’s agriculture ministry, the country currently requires 30-40,000 farm workers, as reported to CNN last week.
The news of sending Kenyan workers to Israel has evoked diverse responses within Kenya, with some expressing concerns about the safety of the workers.
The tragic incident on October 7, where at least 32 Thai farm workers were killed and others taken hostage during Hamas’s attack on Israel, intensifies the apprehensions.
Critics have also raised doubts about the working conditions that the workers might encounter in Israel.
A BBC investigation in 2018 revealed instances of unsafe labor practices and poor living conditions for many migrant farm workers in Israel. Some experienced overwork, underpayment, and several unexplained deaths occurred.
Rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch have previously sounded alarms over Israel’s treatment of foreign farm laborers.
Israel refuted these allegations, asserting that foreign workers possess equivalent employment rights to Israeli citizens.
Despite concerns, some Kenyans have voiced support for the agreement, citing the urgent need for jobs amidst Kenya’s unemployment crisis and the escalating cost of living.
Kenya’s unemployment rate stands at 5.5%, according to the World Bank’s data.
