India's Jobs Crisis Drives Workers to Seek Higher-Paying Construction Roles in Israel
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India is facing a severe jobs crisis, with many educated yet unemployed people struggling to find secure, well-paying work. This is driving workers to seek overseas jobs like construction roles in Israel.
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Israel plans to hire 10,000 Indian workers to address labor shortages in its construction industry. The jobs pay around $1,648 per month with accommodation/benefits, far more than typical earnings in India.
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The prospective workers are part of India's precarious informal economy. Many are graduates struggling to land formal jobs despite their degrees.
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Multiple factors are blamed for the lack of decent jobs, including demonetization, COVID-19, question paper leaks, and intense competition. Some have unsuccessfully tried illegally entering the US and Canada.
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The workers braving inclement weather to test for the Israel jobs say they are unafraid of the risks as they struggle with rising costs of living, stagnant wages, and lack of job security in India.