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Malawian authorities on Tuesday said Israel had deported 12 workers from the country who had walked off farms and orchards, left deserted by the Gaza conflict, that they had been sent to work on.
Malawi’s government spokesman Moses Kunkuyu stated that the workers violated their contracts by leaving their legal farm employment to work at the bakery.
Hundreds of Malawians have traveled to Israel since November through a government labor export initiative designed to secure employment for youth and boost foreign exchange reserves.
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Numerous Malawians are unemployed amidst an economic crisis marked by substantial government budget reductions. Israeli farms, integral to the economy, have witnessed a significant exodus of workers following the outbreak of war in Gaza on October 7 after Hamas attacks.
Dozens of foreign workers were among approximately 240 individuals reportedly abducted in the attacks according to Israel.
Malawian authorities warned the remaining workers, many of whom are young men and women, that any violation of their contracts would not be accepted.
Kunkuyu urged the workers to refrain from such actions as it tarnishes the country’s reputation.
Following processing, four out of the 12 workers returned to Malawi on Tuesday, with the remaining eight scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, as per the government’s announcement.
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The labor agreement has faced criticism from human rights groups and Malawi’s opposition.
In November, the opposition leader of the country, Kondwani Nankhumwa, denounced it as “an unethical deal” due to the ongoing war that has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties.
Despite facing criticism and warnings from the opposition, young Malawians are showing keen interest in seizing the opportunities presented by the agreement with Israel.
Esther Dzama, a mother residing in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, shared with VOA that her son is eager to work on Israeli farms.
“We anticipate that our son will contribute to enhancing the agricultural sector in our region or the country as a whole,” expressed Dzama, noting, “he is currently employed on a farm cultivating avocado pears.”
Malawian authorities emphasize that “both governments will ensure that the labor export to Israel complies with existing regulatory frameworks.”
Recently, the country inaugurated an embassy in Tel Aviv, symbolizing the government’s dedication to the enduring bilateral relations between the two nations, as stated by Foreign Minister Nancy Tembo.
Tembo announced that the labor agreement would initially offer opportunities to 3,000 workers.
Source:Reuters
