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Israel grants 700 Jordanians permits to work in Eilat hotels

Israel authorized 700 Jordanians to enter the country and work at hotels in Eilat and another 800 are expected to follow, but some hotels will still remain understaffed.
A general view of the pool at the Royal Beach Hotel in Eilat, Israel, June 12, 2018. Picture taken June 12, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1D9159AB60

Israel’s government approved work permits for 700 Jordanians to enter the country and work at hotels in the southern city of Eilat on June 21. An additional 800 Jordanian workers are expected to be approved in the coming days.

Newly appointed Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir explained, "The ban on workers from entering Eilat prevents the reopening of hotels in the city, because it is Jordanian workers who do most of the cleaning and maintenance positions in the hotels." Zamir added that the workers won’t be able to commute back and forth between the countries and that the employers will be responsible for providing the workers with adequate housing. Upon their arrival, the Jordanians will have to spend 14 days in quarantine to ensure they are not carrying the novel coronavirus.

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