SRINAGAR: The Government of India has stated that 6,774 Indian nationals have been recruited to work in Israel under a bilateral framework agreement signed in November 2023. The figure includes 6,730 workers in the construction sector and 44 employed as caregivers, as of July 1, 2025.
The information was provided by Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a question raised by Dr John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The Minister said the recruitment was carried out following the signing of a bilateral Framework Agreement and Implementation Protocols between India and Israel aimed at enabling safe, orderly, and legal migration for employment.
In addition to the workers recruited through official channels, around 7,000 Indian nationals have been recruited as caregivers and around 6,400 in the construction sector through private arrangements, according to available data. Approximately 220 workers have returned to India, primarily citing skill mismatch and language-related challenges.
The Minister also confirmed casualties among Indian workers during the ongoing conflict in the region. One Indian agriculture worker was killed in an attack from Lebanon in March 2024. Three Indian nationals were injured—one in a rocket attack from Gaza on October 7, 2023, and two more in another attack from Lebanon in March 2024.
Responding to a query about the safety of Indian nationals in Israel, the Minister said the Government maintains regular communication with the Indian community through its embassy in Israel. The embassy conducts consular visits and coordinates with Israeli authorities for safety, medical care, and compensation matters.
The bilateral agreement and its protocols are part of the Government’s approach to managing international migration by formalising recruitment mechanisms and ensuring worker welfare.
