Some 100,000 entered Israel as tourists and remained in the country in order to work, claims Eli Yishai.
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Eli Yishai told the Finance Committee today (Wednesday) that there are at present 200,000 illegal foreign workers in Israel. The new government estimate is double the number previously determined. There are also 103,000 legal workers, so that the total number of foreign workers in Israel today reaches some 303,000.
The minister noted that of the 200,000 illegal workers, some 100,000 entered the country as legal workers but ran away from their employers. Another 100,000 entered Israel on tourist visas and remained here to work. Yishay announced he will meet in Paris with the French minister concerned with foreign workers affairs in three weeks, in order to learn the methods France employs to relocate foreign workers in their countries of origin.