Pros and cons of working in Israel
All Russian emigrants unanimously say that the most important advantage of working on Israeli soil is the opportunity to earn good money for the same work for which they pay very little at home.
Often our compatriots deliberately agree to lower their professional status and take unskilled jobs. At the same time, the level of earnings is several times higher than income from skilled work in our country. In addition, Israeli employers provide their employees with additional non-labor bonuses: accommodation, meals, travel or transportation to work, extended health insurance, and the possibility of pension savings. Most local employers are law-abiding and try to comply with all legal requirements when hiring a foreigner. The employer can also pay for a work visa.
Only illegal workers can expect serious trouble while working in Israel. First of all, illegal immigrants may face a lack of any guarantees of payment from the employer. And, of course, all illegal workers - emigrants - must be aware of violating Israeli laws and think about the possible consequences (deportation, large fine, ban on entry into the country).
Work for Ukrainians in Israel
The turbulent situation in Ukraine has provoked the repatriation of many Ukrainians with Jewish roots. In addition, people from Ukraine go to Israel to work, because even an ordinary cleaner can earn much more here than at home. For comparison: a full-time cleaner in the Jewish state will earn $1,200-$1,400. In Ukraine, his earnings would not exceed $170. Ukrainians are used to working hard to have money to live on. Therefore, they do their work efficiently.
Ukrainians are most often offered work in construction, ports, manufacturing and factories. Construction work is being carried out throughout the country, but mainly in large cities. With the influx of tourists and vacationers noted over the past few years, hotels are constantly being built. Due to the ongoing repatriation of people with grounds to their homeland, new buildings and extensions are constantly being erected. In general, there is enough work in the construction sector, and accordingly, there are also offers.
Income level in Israel
The income level of the population, based on macroeconomic indicators, is determined using gross domestic product (GDP). Based on the results of 2021, Israel is in the fourth ten, between Hong Kong and Denmark, in relation to all other countries of the world. At the same time, Russia occupies an honorable 13th place in the world ranking. However, the real level of income is determined by the amount of money earned per month by one ordinary citizen of a particular country. And we all understand that the level of income of the population in Hong Kong, Denmark and Israel is incomparable with domestic incomes. And the income tax for a working person in Israel has a progressive rate from 10 to 50%.
Minimal salary
In Israel, we can talk about an average minimum wage of 5,000 Israeli shekels, which is comparable to 1,388 dollars or 85,000 rubles . Accordingly, the level of minimum earnings depends on the field of activity and qualifications of the employee.
Workers in the service sector, construction, agriculture and education receive the lowest wages: 4000-5400 shekels/month, which equals approximately 68000-92000 rubles.
Workers in the healthcare sector (junior medical personnel), trade and industry receive from 5,400 to 7,400 shekels/month, which is comparable to the approximate amounts in ruble equivalent of 92,000-125,800.
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/israel-nis-shekel-money-background-3884861/
Financiers and banking workers receive a minimum income of around 9,700 shekels/month (approximately 165,000 rubles).
Qualified doctors, IT specialists and engineers in the field of electrical and water supply can count on a minimum income of 15,500-19,500 shekels/month. Translated into Russian money, this is approximately 263,000-330,000 rubles.
Average income
Let's see what the average salary in Israel is in the context of the same areas of activity.
Workers in the service sector, construction, agriculture and education receive the lowest wages: 5400-8300 shekels/month, which is equivalent to 92,000 - 141,000 rubles.
Workers in the healthcare sector (junior medical personnel), trade and industry receive from 8,400 to 9,200 shekels/month, which is comparable to the approximate ruble equivalent amounts of 143,000-156,500.
Financiers and banking workers receive a minimum income of around 16,700 shekels/month (approximately 285,000 rubles).
Qualified doctors, IT specialists and engineers in the field of electrical and water supply can count on a minimum income of 16,000-22,000 shekels/month. Translated into Russian money, approximately 272,000-374,000 rubles.
Income to Expense Ratio
Official Israeli statistics say that only 20% of the population earns more than they spend. At the same time, the rest of the country's population is experiencing a clear budget deficit. The expenses of Israelis are the usual expenses for renting and maintaining a house, purchasing food and non-food products, mobile communications, travel and car maintenance, paying for education, kindergartens, and more.
On average, we can talk about monthly expenses for a family of three (two working adults + one child + one animal) in the region of 15,000-16,000 shekels per month. We take the average statistical expenses and the average family, which can afford small monthly savings for the future of the child and their own life insurance.
The most in-demand professions in Israel
The website of the Ministry of Economy contains a list of vacancies for positions and professions that are required by both private companies and industrial enterprises of the country.
List of professions by degree of requests from employers:
- In the first place are IT specialists working in the field of computer technology (programming, market analysis of new computer developments) and having a higher specialized education. Immigrants from Russia are considered competent and qualified employees, especially those with diplomas from prestigious universities. According to the Ministry of Labor, employers require about 1.5 thousand employees in this field of activity.
- Second place is given to computer engineers involved in installing software, setting up hardware, reinstalling and updating the OS, or searching for viruses.
- The third place was taken by the profession of electrician with higher education and employees of the electronic services sector.
- Then the rating is continued by university teachers, technical engineers for high-tech enterprises with higher and secondary education (salaries will differ).
- Construction workers: welders, electricians, cladding workers, fitters, steeplejacks, carpenters, plumbers.
- Foreman and woodworking specialists are needed by construction companies to organize the setup of the equipment of a new house, manage the construction process and final processing of interior details.
- Junior medical staff, sports instructors and coaches in various disciplines have a chance to quickly find a job.
- Also required are workers for real estate agencies, agronomists with higher and secondary education, drivers for long-distance transportation and passenger vehicles.
- There is great demand for pharmacists, dentists, and software engineers.
For a country that is successfully developing economically, people with any professions are needed, but preference is given to people with higher and secondary specialized education.
The most popular specialties
A stable economy always generates an expansion of the labor market. And Israel is no exception. For foreign citizens there will always be open vacancies for junior medical personnel, cooks and kitchen workers, general workers and qualified electricians, welders, and crane operators. A lot of offers can be seen in the service sector and in the hotel business. Maids, housekeepers, housekeepers, nurses, and nannies are constantly needed. The most paid professions are those related to software and mobile application development.
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/coffee-pot-coffee-pot-old-drink-3008942/
However, if you are going to Israel to work in banking, pharmaceuticals, or accounting, then a fiasco may await you. These professions are not in demand for foreign citizens. And highly qualified emigrants must prove their professional suitability on Israeli soil.
Work for Belarusians in Israel
Belarusians, just like Russians and Ukrainians, can always get a job for which there are few Israeli applicants. They are also offered vacancies in positions where the employee’s duties involve a lot of physical labor. A Belarusian who speaks Hebrew can afford to choose other areas, for example, in the service sector.
Immigrants from other CIS countries, for example, Moldova, Georgia, Uzbekistan, etc. can also count on a job in Israel. The main advantage of such workers is considered to be good heat tolerance. The hot climate of the Jewish state will be familiar to them and will not cause problems. For many Russians, it is the heat that becomes the main problem during field work. Uzbeks are gladly invited to construction sites - the population of Uzbekistan has mastered the basics of construction from a young age.
Citizens of Kazakhstan most often work on vegetable and livestock farms - this is the best option for them. Men from Kazakh families mostly go out alone to earn money, so seasonal work suits them perfectly. Farmers usually provide housing, which is considered one of the main advantages of this type of work.
Georgian citizens do not need a visa to travel to Israel: the visa regime between these countries was abolished back in 2014. This provoked an increase in illegal employment. Now on the agenda is the question of how to resolve such chaos. In 2021, an agreement on Israel granting official employment rights to Georgian citizens may be considered.
Popular vacancies for Russians
Work in Israel for Russians (vacancies) directly depends on knowledge of the language, qualifications, and also on the region. The largest number of offers from employers for Russian emigrants and the highest paid jobs are concentrated in large cities.
In kibbutzim, that is, small settlements, our compatriot can always get a job as an agricultural worker. However, most Russians prefer to work as a salesperson, blue-collar workers, guides, and bus or taxi drivers in cities. Russian women are most often employed as maids and nurses, as well as nurses and physician assistants. Such work provides a level of income from low to average by the standards of the local population of the country. And by the standards of wages in Russia, such earnings can be considered decent.
Is a visa required to work in Israel?
In 2021, a work visa to Israel is required for employment. Without it, foreign citizens will not be allowed to operate in a given country. A B1 category visa must be issued; it is issued only by the employer. He must submit an application to the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs to obtain a work permit for a foreign citizen.
If the foreign citizen is approved, he will be sent an invitation letter to come to the country. After this, the job seeker must send the following documents to the embassy in his country:
· certificate of no criminal record;
· health certificate;
· medical report for tests;
· fingerprinting;
· color photos;
· receipt of payment of state duty.
If you already have a visa, then the job seeker must have an identity card and a biography that states where he worked before that time, documents certifying his education, a work book and permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply for a job.
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For students studying in Israel, all you need is a reference and a document that confirms the student’s identity.
Requirements for applicants for the position
Working in Israel for Russians and other emigrants requires a legal work permit. To do this, an emigrant needs to obtain a specialized work visa. In some cases, in Israeli advertisements you can see the employer’s phrase: “Possible with blue paper.”
This means that a foreign citizen is in Israel as a refugee, and for the period of registration of refugee status he is issued a special document, which is popularly called “blue paper”.
Knowledge of languages (Hebrew, English) and personal qualifications of the future employee are also of great importance.
Work permit
Employment in Israel in most cases occurs in strict accordance with the law. Employers take a responsible approach to the issue of hiring foreign citizens due to the vigilant attention of government regulatory authorities and huge penalties. Therefore, a labor emigrant needs to take care of a work visa. You can receive it only upon invitation from an Israeli employer. This means that first, while in your home country, you need to start looking for a future place of work and agree on an official invitation. Persons under 23 years of age cannot obtain a work visa.
Language knowledge
There is an opinion that without knowledge of Hebrew it is impossible to get a qualified job in Israel. But as practice shows, Russians who dream of working on Israeli soil can find work without knowing Hebrew. In most cases, the employer indicates this important criterion in his advertisement - knowledge of the language. You can often see in published vacancies that Russian-speaking workers and English speakers are required.
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/jerusalem-israel-easter-916891/
Qualification
Professional qualifications are the key to successful employment with a high level of earnings. And if the applicant was able to interest the employer with his resume, in which he indicated his strong professional qualities, listed his diplomas, certificates, licenses, then he will be scheduled for an interview. As a rule, remote interviews take place via Skype.
In addition, in Israel there are many unskilled jobs for which our compatriots are gladly hired. The main requirements are age (25-45 years) and basic human qualities: integrity, good manners, neatness, hard work. This can also be considered the qualifications of a good service worker.
Work for Russians in Israel
There is a large Russian-speaking population in Israel - about 2 million. Considering the total population today - 8,587,544 people, the proportion of Russian speakers turns out to be significant. Without knowing the language, you can look for work in Ashdod - here the Russian-speaking population is more than 30%. In addition, there are many places where you can get a job with knowledge of Russian - in Ashdod there are national restaurants serving Russian cuisine, Russian shops and companies where they are happy to hire Russians if there are free places. In Ashdod there is also a “Victory” plant that produces paper; only Russians are accepted here; all the plant’s documentation is in Russian.
Other cities in which Russian speakers “settle” and make up almost half of their population are:
- Sderot (Southern part);
- Carmiel (North);
- Be'er Sheva (Southern part).
Often on message boards on the Internet you can find vacancies offered exclusively to Russians. For example, a family needs a Russian nanny for a child, a Russian nurse to care for a sick person, etc.
Russians who know Hebrew, but do not have higher education and diplomas from technical schools and other secondary specialized educational institutions, can work as sellers, cashiers, nurses, nannies in Jewish families, in general, get a job with low earnings, but have contact with other people . Those who speak Hebrew fluently and have graduated from at least a technical school can count on a position in their specialty: cook, hairdresser, mechanic, plumber, painter, etc.
Everything about getting an Israeli work visa
The procedure for obtaining a work visa from other categories of visas is that its registration occurs only with the participation of the future Israeli employer. It is the receiving party that must submit several requests :
- first, to the Israeli Department of Foreign Affairs (at the place of registration of the employer’s company) to get permission to send an official employment invitation to a foreign citizen;
- then the Israeli consulate of the migrant worker or directly to your future employee.
The job seeker is required to collect a package of documents and submit them to the consulate for consideration.
Package of documents
Obtaining a work visa is based on an official invitation from the employer and the applicant’s valid foreign passport. Also an integral part of the package of documents will be a general passport, an application form (2 pages), 2 photos on glossy paper (size 5*5 mm), and a certificate of no criminal record.
Medical documents will be a notarized medical certificate (form 082/u) and mandatory medical insurance for those traveling abroad of the Russian Federation. The financial solvency of the emigrant is confirmed by a certificate - a bank account confirming the availability of funds ($500), the availability of tickets for travel to Israel and documents on accommodation (hotel reservation). You also need to submit a document confirming payment of the consular fee ($35) to the consulate.
Where to contact?
The applicant, while in his home country, submits a package of documents to the Israeli consulate. There is only one office of the Israeli Embassy in Russia. It is located in Moscow at the address: building 56, st. Bolshaya Ordynka. Opening hours: weekdays from 9 am to 12 noon.
This can be done in person through an official representative or through an intermediary in the form of a visa center. Documents transmitted by email or website will not be considered.
Cost of visa permit
The work visa itself is not purchased, but is provided free of charge. However, the applicant pays for the provision of a government service, which may include wages for consular employees and consumables for preparing and pasting a visa into the passport. The consular (visa) fee for obtaining a work visa to Israel is 35 US dollars.
Validity of work visa
A visa for the legal employment of a person (emigrant) on Israeli soil is issued for exactly one year with the right to extension. During the validity period of the visa, the expat can apply to the embassy for an extension of the work permit. In this case, you cannot change the field of activity and violate the laws of the country.
Visa refusal
Refusal to obtain a visa may occur due to falsification of the applicant’s personal data and the state of his health. Israel can also refuse a labor emigrant due to age inconsistency.
The visa is only available to people of a certain age group, namely 23-55 years old. If the applicant has been found to have violated Israeli law during previous visits to the country, then most likely he will be denied both a visa and its extension. They will also not give a work visa to foreign citizens who have close relatives (spouses, children, parents) living in Israel.
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/passport-military-id-2442845/
Refusal to extend a visa occurs due to a radical change in the field of activity, due to dismissal, or bankruptcy of the employer.
If you receive a refusal from the consul, you can request a written explanation of the reasons. Perhaps there is a chance to adjust the package of documents. A categorical refusal can be appealed in court.
How to apply for a work visa to Israel and obtain a work permit
Working in Israel for Russians is impossible without a work visa, and this can be done either in the country of permanent residence or as a guest on Israeli territory.
A visa is a kind of access to lucrative vacancies with good pay; in addition, a stamp in a foreign passport will allow you to obtain permission to enter the territory of other states (with the exception of the UAE) with almost no restrictions.
Only having a visa gives the right to obtain a work permit. Its absence threatens the illegal worker with deportation and a ban on entry into Israel for many years.
For Russians
Important! This category of visa is called B-1; it is issued for a period of 1 year, but can be extended no more than 5 times.
In Israel, only the potential employer deals with all visa issues. Therefore, you should begin the registration process by searching for an employer. But there is one important condition - he must have a valid license to conduct such activities; if it is missing, then the Ministry of Labor and Employment will not issue a work permit.
How to search:
- Find the right vacancy on employment websites or recruiting agencies.
- Contact the employer - you can call, or better yet, use Skype to communicate in real time. In most cases, this is how a preliminary interview is conducted, after which the employer will decide whether to accept or refuse to provide a job.
Advice: if you start searching while in Israel, many recruitment agencies have business connections with potential employers, and through them it is much easier to find a person interested in employees.
If the first communication was successful, then you should prepare a set of documents:
- A valid international passport, better than a new one, with biological data of the owner and a validity period of 10 years.
- Certificate of tax registration (analogous to TIN).
- A certificate certified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirming the absence of criminal prosecution or outstanding convictions.
- Medical examination in an Israeli clinic licensed to examine foreign citizens. The certificate must contain information about the absence of dangerous infectious diseases, such as AIDS, acute tuberculosis or hepatitis, and the result of testing the applicant’s blood.
- A document confirming the taking of fingerprints with copies of their impressions must be affixed with an apostille (a special stamp confirming that a copy was taken from the original - issued through a notary).
- Employment agreement with the employer for the job.
- Applicant questionnaire.
- 2 photos with dimensions 5 by 5 cm.
- Application from the employer for a visa and work permit.
- Receipt of payment of the consular fee for processing documents ($46).
Payment of the fee is required in any case, even if the consulate has refused a visa and a work permit has not been received.
In other cases, the consul may ask you to provide additional documents:
- Certificate of marriage/divorce.
- Bank statement confirming the presence of a debit account.
- Information about family composition.
- Letters of recommendation from previous places of employment.
- Certificate of place and date of birth.
- Documents of a pensioner, if an elderly person.
You need to be prepared for this; the consul will tell you an exact list of the entire set of documentation at the interview.
Attention! At the consul's appointment, original documents must be presented, and their copies must be translated into English and certified by a notary.
If everything is agreed upon, then after some time the Ministry of Labor will send the work permit to the representative office of the country through which all requests were processed. And the employer must contact the job applicant, after which a B-1 visa is issued at the Israeli embassy (usually on the day of application).
For Belarusians
Citizens of Belarus can apply for work in Israel via the Internet, via international mail, or while in the country as a guest.
The algorithm for all actions is no different from obtaining a work visa and permit for Russian citizens - you also need to first find an employer who will be interested in hiring you, and he will deal with all visa and immigration issues on his own.
For Ukrainians
The principle of registration is no different from obtaining a visa for Russians and Belarusians - the algorithm for all actions is similar for all foreign citizens who want to work in Israel.
Important! You can apply for a work permit only to work in a specific company, and if an immigrant decides to change his place of work and get a new job, then the registration procedure is the same as for the initial registration of a work visa.
Advice: you can add a certificate of legal behavior in the country to the main set of documents - it can be obtained at the nearest police station at the place of application on the same day. He will be able to help if the characteristics of trustworthiness and law-abidingness, compliance with all rules of stay in Israel are required.
Important! If you get a job illegally, you may face heavy fines , deportation, and an entry ban for more than 10 years (even with an official invitation from the host country).
Tips for finding a job
There is work in Israel (reviews from Russians) for emigrants, and there is a lot of it. You can search on your own, although finding a good offer without the participation of recruitment agencies is quite difficult. Israeli employers trust the selection of personnel to specialists. Unlike Russian recruitment firms, Israeli personnel officers have a good reputation and an extensive database.
Independent search
Nobody prohibits searching for an employer on your own in Israel. All modern job search methods are available to job seekers:
- websites;
- electronic bulletin boards;
- Jewish newspapers and magazines with job postings;
- recommendations from friends;
- other.
In addition to finding a suitable employer, the applicant needs to undergo a remote interview (usually via Skype) and agree on issuing a job offer. And if for some people the employment event in Israel will be held under the slogan: “Easy and simple!”, then for others similar actions will be long, painful and ineffective.
Luck, perseverance and investing personal time in searching for a quality employer are necessary conditions for obtaining results.
Recruitment agencies
Jobs in Israel are mainly sold through specialized employment agencies. It is customary that Israeli employers prefer to turn to trusted agencies to recruit employees. It was in this matter that Israeli businessmen calculated the economic disadvantage of maintaining a personnel selection department within their enterprise.
Contacting a recruitment agency saves the employer money, time and effort. Russians have access to Russian-language, English-language websites of recruitment agencies and websites in Hebrew. Agencies such as Etgar (site with Russian translation), Manpower Group (site in Hebrew), and Ortal Human Resources (site with English translation) operate successfully.
Are there special programs for employment?
Each city that accepts a foreign citizen for a work visa has a number of special employment programs.
The main focus of such programs is good employment for newcomers and decent wages.
Basic list of requirements for visitors:
§ by age from 25 to 35 years;
§ priority is given to women;
§ integrity and good manners, simple human qualities;
§ hard work.
Such human qualities are highly valued, especially for those who come to work to look after the elderly and help incapacitated people.
Anyone who has all of the above is guaranteed assistance in finding a job in the Holy Land. As a rule, for such nursing professions, accommodation takes place in the same house (premises) with the wards.
There are some programs that operate under separate conditions that differ from the standards.
These differences may include separate room and board, but may also determine work in other medical facilities, hospices, etc.
No matter how it sounds, to start working in Israel under the program, a visitor needs to make a “deposit” of $1,000.
This amount pays off very quickly, and the employee receives a number of benefits:
§ work legally, everything is legal;
§ full social package and medical insurance, which is issued by the employer for its employee;
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§ an employment contract with a full explanation of the rights and obligations of each party. In Israel, all conditions in employment contracts are strictly observed, people are very responsible, so there is no need to fuss;
§ mandatory days off after work;
§ you can choose who to work for, that is, choose your employer;
§ ease of employment without knowledge of the language.
Each program is individual and takes into account the necessary points. For example, for some, the gender of the employee (male or female) is of priority importance, based on the work performed.
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Some areas of activity welcome married couples, and accordingly, family income is implied.
The first contract is always drawn up and signed for a year. If everything goes perfectly and the employer is satisfied with you, then you can easily cancel the employment contract. The maximum extension is permissible up to eight years at a time.
