So, what happened at Kav LaOved this month?
Workers of the World Unite? Not Quite.
A survey conducted by Kav LaOved in anticipation of this year’s International Workers' Day clearly shows that the majority of migrant workers in Israel do not get the labor rights they are entitled to by law. There are approximately 88,000 migrant workers legally employed in Israel, three-fourth of which are working in the agriculture and caregiving sectors. The survey, which was answered by over 300 women working as caregivers, shows that 66% of them had to continue caring for their employer even while they themselves were ill. This statistic is consistent with the fact that in Israel, the law which regulates work hours and rest does not apply to in-home caregivers, forcing them to be available 24-hours a day.
Of the Thai agricultural workers who arrived in Kav LaOved in the last year, 76% worked more than 8 hours per day, 66% worked 6-7 days a week and 50% did not receive a minimum wage. Another survey conducted by Kav revealed that of 509 agricultural workers who answered the questionnaire, 72% do not receive a pay slip.
Full article in Hebrew.
Rise in Asylum Seekers Contacting Kav LaOved Reveals that Workers Aren't Receiving Deposit Funds as Required by Law
The “Deposit Law” is a law, which requires employers of asylum seekers to set aside 20% of their employees’ monthly salaries in a specifically designated account, which will be redeemable by the asylum seekers only when they leave the country. The government has explicitly stated that this law is intended to incentivize asylum seekers to leave the country. Kav LaOved has brought a petition to the High Court of Justice in order to overturn the law. In the meantime, it has become evident that the law is not only discriminatory, but is also poorly implemented, simply enabling employers to lower the wages of asylum seekers by 20%. As more and more asylum seekers reach out to Kav LaOved to enquire about their designated deposit fund, it has become obvious that while employers report they are setting these funds aside, they are in fact simply keeping the money themselves.
A manpower agency named "Zroa HaZahav" (Arm of Gold), was one of the most prominent employers that failed to set aside these funds for its employees. Instead, while close to 900 asylum seeker employees went unpaid, company management continued getting paid up until declaring the company bankrupt. 24 such asylum seekers, which have already purchased their tickets to leave the country, turned to Kav LaOved and were surprised to learn that their hard earned money was never set aside, and that if they leave, they would never receive it.
Due to the Kav LaOved’s exposé on the “Deposit Law” published in The Marker, the Knesset’s Internal Affairs Committee called for a discussion on the law. During the session the Population, Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA), the government agency tasked with implementing the law, revealed that in fact 27,000 employed asylum seekers have had their wages reduced but no corresponding money was set aside on their behalf.
Full articles in Hebrew: 1 | 2
Kav LaOved is Leading the Charge in Demanding Reforms to Safety Components of Public Construction Projects
This month, the "Globes" newspaper held a convention on housing and real estate, in which the issue of work accidents in the construction sector was given a platform.
In addition to a presentation on the subject, a panel was held titled, "Looking for a way to avoid work accidents – is it the responsibility of the contractors, the engineers, or the state?" Gadeer Nicola, Kav LaOved’s attorney as well as the sector manager leading Kav’s efforts to improve safety in the construction sector, participated in the panel. Nicola outlined the different reforms required in order to create immediate improvements in the sector, among them a requirement that all bids include the cost of safety components, as permanent and fixed element of any project bid, so that any potential cost reductions will not come at the expense of worker safety. "We will demand that the government price the safety component of public projects," said Nicola adding, “As well as restrict on which construction companies can take part in bidding for projects. 20 workers killed in the last two years were employed on construction sites of public projects. We expect more from public authorities. If the government will change its conduct, it would influence private companies as well."
Full article in Hebrew.
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