The Malawi government says Israel has deported 12 Malawian workers who had deserted farms where they had been employed to work.

In a statement, Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu said the workers had valid visas to work in specific farms but had “breached their contract” by going to work at a bakery.

The 12 Malawians were among over 40 foreign workers who were arrested while working at a bakery in Tel Aviv last week.

Mr Kunkuyu said it was illegal under Israeli law for a foreign worker to change jobs without following the right procedures.

He cautioned all Malawian migrant workers in Israel “to desist from such behaviour as it puts this country into disrepute”.

“Such behaviour may also reduce employment opportunities of the individuals concerned,” he said.

Hundreds of Malawians travelled to Israel last year to fill a labour gap on Israel's farms, as thousands of workers had left following the start of the war with Hamas in October.

It came as part of a labour export deal signed between the two countries in 2022.

Last week, some Malawians Israel told the BBC that low salaries were the reason why some of them had left their jobs on the farms to look for other work in the country.