Israel's government is set to approve an increase in the quota of foreign construction workers from 50,000 to 70,000 to help revitalise the country’s construction sector, Reuters has reported.

The country has witnessed significantly slow growth in its construction industry since its conflict with Hamas restarted in October 2023.

The report cited Israel's Construction and Housing Ministry director general Yehuda Morgenstern, who told the domestic Calcalist financial newspaper that the government would soon approve the increased quota. 

The ministry is reportedly planning to bring in approximately 70,000 foreign workers from countries such as China and India, among others.

The move is intended to counteract the severe labour shortages that have increased in the country's construction sector since more than 80,000 Palestinian construction workers were prohibited from entering Israel.

The quota was already boosted to 50,000 from 30,000 in November 2023.

“There is a shortage in the manpower sector. That's why the pace of construction per building in Israel has risen to 34 months from 30 in 2021 and 27 months in 2014,” Morgenstern added.

This recommendation is part of a broader strategy to address the labour gap and expedite construction projects across the country.