A new group of 29 Sri Lankan workers are set to depart for Israel this week to take up employment in the home-based caregiving sector, as part of a growing labour migration programme supported by the Israeli government.
The official handing over of air tickets to the selected workers took place on 4 July at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) headquarters.
These placements are part of a bilateral agreement between the Sri Lankan and Israeli governments, aimed at facilitating employment opportunities for trained Sri Lankan caregivers in Israel’s domestic care sector. The programme has steadily expanded over recent years.
Sri Lanka has continued to send thousands of workers into Israel, mainly to replace Palestinian labourers, as Colombo continues to maintain strong ties with Israel, despite its Gaza assault.
According to the SLBFE, 379 Sri Lankan caregivers have already secured positions in Israel in 2025 alone. In total, 2,269 Sri Lankan nationals have been recruited to Israel’s caregiving sector under this agreement to date.
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka’s Minister Bimal Rathnayake addressed the continued ties with Israel amidst international condemnation of its actions in Gaza last month, stating, “If Sri Lanka suddenly ends ties with Israel, the economy will crash.”
This stance follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year, through which 6,092 Sri Lankans secured jobs in Israel's construction sector. As of mid-2025, 1,018 Sri Lankan workers had already departed. In March, Sri Lanka opened a new consulate in Haifa, further strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation, including discussions on trade in gems, jewellery, cinnamon, and agriculture.
