When you come to work in Israel, you are not just given a general work visa. You are given permission to work in one specific job type, for one specific employer, in one specific sector. That sounds simple — but many workers do not fully understand what it means until something goes wrong. A side job that turns out to be illegal. A task the employer asks for that is not covered. A change of employer done informally that causes problems months later.
This article explains how the system works, what each sector actually involves, and what you need to know to stay legal. The more clearly you understand this, the more protected you are.
The B/1 Visa: Your Work Permission in Israel
Almost all Sri Lankan workers in Israel hold what is called a B/1 visa. This is a work visa – it allows you to be in Israel legally and to work. But it has three limits that are important to understand:
- It is tied to one employer. You cannot work for a different employer without going through an official process.
- It is tied to one sector. You cannot move from caregiving to farming or construction without going through an official sector change.
- It has an end date. Working even one day after it expires makes you illegal in Israel – regardless of how long you have been here or how good your record is.
The Main Sectors for Sri Lankan Workers
Israel organises foreign worker employment by sector. Each sector has its own rules, its own employer obligations, and its own permit system. Here is where most Sri Lankan workers are employed:
| Sector (Hebrew name) | What the work involves |
| Caregiving – Siyud (Siyud) | Caring for elderly or disabled people in their homes or in care facilities. This is the most common sector for Sri Lankan workers. Most caregivers live in the home of the person they look after, which brings specific rights around rest days and housing costs. |
| Agriculture – Haklaut (Haklaut) | Farm work – harvesting, planting, greenhouse work, packing and irrigation. Agricultural permits are often tied to a specific farm or region. Housing is usually provided on the farm itself. |
| Construction – Biniya (Biniya) | Physical work on building sites – laying foundations, scaffolding, infrastructure. Safety certifications are usually required. Workers must not take on tasks outside their certified role. |
| Hospitality – Malonaut (Malonaut) | Hotel housekeeping, kitchen preparation, laundry, front-of-house support. This sector has grown significantly for Sri Lankan workers, especially in Eilat and the Dead Sea area. Shifts often include evenings, weekends and public holidays. |
| Industry and Manufacturing – Ta’asiya | Factory work – production lines, packaging, quality control, warehouse. Permits are issued by specific employers and cannot be transferred to a different factory without PIBA approval. Night shifts are common. |
| Restaurants and Food Service – Mis’adot | Kitchen work, dishwashing, food preparation, cleaning in restaurants and catering. Hours are irregular – late nights, Friday evenings and holiday periods are the busiest times. The permit is tied to one restaurant. |
What Each Sector Actually Looks Like Day to Day
Caregiving
Most Sri Lankan caregivers live in the home of the person they care for. That means your workplace and your home are the same place – which can be both comfortable and complicated. The law says you must have at least one full day off per week, and that day off must be written into your contract. Your employer can deduct money from your salary for the room and food they provide, but only up to a legal maximum. If your deduction looks too high, check it.
Agriculture
Farm work in Israel runs in seasons – the busiest times are usually spring and autumn, depending on the crop. Your permit is linked to one specific farm or agricultural operation. Even if there is a farm one kilometre away doing the same work, you cannot work there without a permit transfer. Housing on farms varies a lot – sometimes comfortable, sometimes basic. Check before you commit.
Hotels and Hospitality
Eilat, on the Red Sea, is where many Sri Lankan workers in hospitality are based. Israeli hotels run seven days a week and serve guests from around the world year-round, so shift patterns rotate and weekend work is normal. Housekeeping and kitchen support are the most common roles. Your permit is tied to one specific hotel – moving to a different hotel, even in the same chain, requires going through PIBA.
Industry and Manufacturing
A factory permit is one of the most specific in Israel’s system. A permit for one food packaging company cannot be used at a different factory, even if the work looks identical. Night shifts are standard in many industrial settings – confirm your shift schedule before you arrive, and confirm whether you will receive extra pay for night hours.
Restaurants and Food Service
Restaurant work is demanding – the hours are unpredictable, Friday nights are always busy, and holiday periods mean everyone works more. Your permit is for one restaurant only. Helping a friend’s restaurant on a quiet Sunday, or picking up a shift somewhere else while your main employer is slow, counts as working out of permit and is illegal. Before you accept restaurant work, make sure your contract clearly states your hours, your rest day, and whether tips count as part of your salary.
Whatever sector you are in: know it, understand it, and do not go outside it – even informally, even briefly.
How the Permit System Works – and Why It Matters
Here is something many workers do not know: the employment permit is not issued to you. It is issued to your employer.
The permit says: this employer has permission to employ one foreign worker in this sector. Your name and passport number are attached to it. So if your employer stops renewing the permit, or if you change employers without going through the official process, your legal right to work is affected – even though you personally did nothing wrong.
| A simple way to think about the permit system |
| Think of it as a two-lock system. You hold one key (your B/1 visa) and your employer holds the other (the employment permit). Both keys are needed for your work to be legal. If either one expires or changes without the other knowing, the door does not open. |
What Working Out of Permit Means – and Why You Should Care
Working outside your approved sector is called working out of permit in Hebrew. It happens more often than people realise – and usually by accident:
- A caregiver is asked to clean the employer’s office as well as their home.
- A farm worker is asked to help with some construction work on the property.
- A worker changes employers without going through PIBA because the official process seems too slow.
- A worker’s visa expires, the employer says renewal is in process – and the worker keeps working anyway.
| ⚠ IMPORTANT |
| Working out of permit – even once, even briefly – can result in a fine, a warning on your immigration record, refusal of future visa renewal, or in serious cases, detention and deportation. I did not know or my employer said it was fine are not accepted as explanations by Israeli immigration. |
How to Check Your Own Permit Status
You have the right to know the status of your permit at any time. Here is how:
- Ask your employer or agency for a printed copy of the employment permit (heter ha’asaka). It should show your name, passport number, sector and expiry date.
- Go to any PIBA office and ask to see your file using your passport number.
- Call the PIBA Foreign Workers Hotline: 1-800-354-554 and ask for your permit status directly.
| ✓ QUICK TIP |
| Write down your permit expiry date and set a phone reminder 60 days before it. Renewal takes time – starting early gives you options. Starting the day it expires gives you none. |
The Rules in Short
| Rule | What it means day to day |
| Work only in your approved sector | Do not take on tasks from another sector, even if asked, even for one day |
| Work only for your permit employer | No side jobs, no helping a friend’s business, no informal work arrangements |
| Do not work after your visa or permit expires | Both have expiry dates – track both, they are often different |
| All transfers must go through PIBA | A handshake or WhatsApp agreement with a new employer is not a legal transfer |
| You can check your own status | You do not need your employer’s permission to ask PIBA about your file |
| Have a question about this? |
| Still not sure? Ask the Expert. I am not sure which sector my permit is for, and my employer gives me different work every week. Is that legal? The LankaConnect Ask the Expert corner is here for exactly these questions. Real answers, in Sinhala or English, from people who understand the Israeli system. Go to: LankaConnect.com/ask-the-expert |
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