Strike could disrupt travel, immigration services

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Israel is bracing for a possible general strike Wednesday, as negotiations between the government and a key public sector union continued late into the night Tuesday.

What does the change mean? A strike would affect government agencies and services across the board. Ministry of Interior offices and airports would be closed. Work permits, visas and other immigration services would be temporarily unavailable. Israeli airspace would be closed to international and local flights until 11 p.m. Wednesday.

• Implementation time frame: Dec. 23 at 6 a.m. Israeli time (GMT+2).
• Visas/permits affected: All visas, permits and immigration services.
• Who is affected: Anyone in need of immigration-related services or planning travel to or from Israel.
• Impact on processing times: Processing delays should be expected if workers go on strike.
• Business impact: Businesses may need to adjust their timelines if their employees are among those affected by the work stoppage.

Background: The government and Israel’s main public sector union have not been able to reach a deal on pay and working conditions for public employees. If a deal is not reached by Wednesday morning, Israel will see its first nationwide strike in four years.

BAL Analysis: While negotiations are ongoing and a strike may be averted, travelers and foreign nationals should prepare for the possibility that government offices and airports will be closed. Travelers with flights scheduled for Wednesday should check with their airline to see if flights have already been changed. BAL will continue following the news in Israel and alert clients to any significant developments.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Israel. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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