Textile factories leave Israel for Jordan, Egypt

Fifteen Israeli textile factories have moved to Jordan and Egypt in recent years to take advantage of cheaper labor costs, Israeli radio said on July 13. Over the past three years several thousands of Israeli textile workers have lost their jobs when the factories they worked in were transferred to Jordan and Egypt because Israeli salaries are too high, the radio said.

The average monthly salary of an Israeli worker is 900 US dollars, while a Jordinian employee would be paid 140 US dollars and an Egyptian 90 US dollars.

The radio station said the heads of Israeli companies are ready to close more factories and lay off thousands more employees in the next two years.

Yair Rotlavi, a textile official at the Asociation of Israeli Manufacturers, said the phenomenon was "inescapable."

"Textile companies must find cheaper labor in neighboring countries, if we want them to survive," he said.

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