Since the first bilateral agreement for agricultural workers from Thailand, additional agreements for construction workers have been signed with Moldova, and Ukraine. In 2021, there was a breakthrough when the first agreement for domestic care workers was signed with the Philippines. This was the first time that care workers arrived in Israel through a regulated and transparent process, with no illegal -handling fees, and with a broad package of services and assistance starting prior to arrival in Israel and continuing until their return to their country of origin. Subsequently, agreements were signed with Sri Lanka (domestic care workers), Nepal (institutional care workers), and the Philippines (hotel services). CIMI shares responsibility for ensuring the workers’ rights and well-being.

 

The most significant development at this time was the introduction of the orientation program for workers – an informational program offered to the workers upon arrival in the country that includes subjects such as employment, rights and obligations, the Israeli culture, and so forth. Through the addition of this service, CIMI increased the range of media through which to communicate with the workers – telephone, online, social media, and various apps.

 

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when thousands of Ukrainian refugees poured into the country, CIMI joined the “emergency assistance” project with the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, JDC, and Magen David Adom, taking responsibility for greeting the new arrivals at the airport and gathering information. CIMI subsequently helped the government to implement humanitarian assistance and care in special cases. More recently, a local project has been set up with the support of the Jerusalem Foundation and in partnership with the Kol HaNashema congregation – JerusaleMIX – which provides social and community activities for refugees living in Jerusalem.