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Contractors have complained that while overseas workers, particularly from India, filled part of the labor gap, communication difficulties and adjustment issues limited their effectiveness.
By Shula Rosen
Thousands of overseas workers preparing to join Israel’s construction and industrial workforce are studying Hebrew through a new program launched by Dynamic Staffing Services, the country’s largest international recruitment agency.
The initiative, called Shalom Namaste, was developed with Workforce24 to help overcome language and cultural barriers that Israeli employers say have complicated the integration of foreign labor.
The course spans 13 weeks and combines live instruction, recorded lessons, and practice materials.
Dynamic said the program is already serving about 4,800 workers in India, with 500 completing the training. Employers in Israel have pressed for expansion, and enrollment will soon open to recruits from Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a severe labor shortage in Israel’s construction industry, which intensified after Palestinian workers were barred from entering following the October 7 attacks.
Contractors have complained that while Indian workers filled part of the gap, communication difficulties and adjustment issues limited their effectiveness.
One of the first companies to employ graduates of the course is Shikun & Binui, through its Solel Boneh foreign workers division. Flyshn Ltd., another labor provider, also participated in the pilot program.
Sameer Khosla, chairman of Dynamic, told Ynet the program was designed to smooth the transition for workers. “In the Gulf states, Asian workers benefit from established communities and integrate quickly. In Israel, worker adaptation is far more challenging,” he noted. “The Shalom Namaste program helps bridge this gap and supports the integration of workers in Israel.”
The company said participants not only learn Hebrew but also improve English skills, equipping them to handle daily life and workplace demands.
With thousands of new recruits expected in the coming months, Israeli employers hope the training will speed adaptation and address pressing shortages across the sector.
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