This month in Kav LaOved – Worker's Hotline
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We protested against the neglect of agricultural migrant workers – in peaceful times as well as times of conflict
During August, as local tradition commands, fighting has broken out around Gaza Strip. As alarms were wailing in the area near Gaza, we received many calls from the migrant workers employed in agriculture in that region. They didn't know what to do – whether to go back to the fields, as their employers demanded, or to look for a place to hide seeking shelter from the missiles.
Due to the lack of adequate shelters and clear guidance, we received extremely upsetting news: two workers were injured in Talmei Eliyahu, a moshav in southern Israel, one of them a Thai worker who was seriously wounded – Janpen Sae-Jaw. While Janpen was in the hospital recovering, we learned that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture are promoting an initiative aimed at reducing the salaires of agricultural migrant workers to below minimum wage. Shocked by the discriminatory concept as well as the timing of the announcement – KLO has submitted an opinion piece (Hebrew) stating our strong objection to any such proposal which was published by Haaretz.
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We calculated the total amount of money recovered for Palestinians who were injured while working in Israel
The number of workers approaching us for assistance with workplace accidents compensation has been steadily on the rise, and with it, over the years, so has our success rate at ensuring their rights are recognized. Leading these efforts are Abed Dari, who has been working with Kav LaOved since 2011, and Ehud Ein-Gil, who has been volunteering with us since 1991. In the last six months alone they recovered 342,702 shekels that were returned directly to workers!
Ehud was working as a journalist when he first came to Kav LaOved's offices and offered his services as a volunteer. It was 27 years ago, but who really keeps track. Since that day, he has managed to recover more than 5 million shekels for Palestinians working in Israel: he sends faxes, writes letters, stands in front of medical committees and fights for every shekel on behalf of these workers, individuals who could never have exercised their rights without him. He knows the bureaucratic hurdles of the government agencies, insurance companies and hospitals better than most experienced lawyers. So while the experienced lawyers often give up when they first encounter these cases, Ehud follows through even when the chances to retrieve the worker's money seem close to zero.
Abed is a trained social worker based out of East Jerusalem. During the years, he has helped thousands of workers achieve their rights in the face of governmental authorities, and fought to put mailboxes in Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods – so today residents don't have to turn to grocery stores in order to collect their mail. His daughter volunteered at Kav LaOved this summer helping countless asylum seekers fill out forms and advocate for their rights, continuing the family tradition.
The cooperation between Abed and Ehud produces not only reports, but also many moving successful stories. Thank you both!
After the holiday season, we plan on publishing an extensive report detailing the difficult and discriminatory nature of Palestinian employment in Israel.
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Photographer: Nofar Galon
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After we warned the Supreme Court of Israel's gradual withdrawal from bilateral agreements – we received surprising news! Israel is close to signing an agreement with the Philippines!
For years, migrant workers have arrived in Israel through private Israeli and foreign placement agencies that charge exorbitant and illegal brokerage fees from each worker. As these fees continued to grow, the Israeli government proved reluctant to monitor these agencies or act against the illegal fees they demanded in return for work placement. In the middle of the 2000’s, Kav LaOved filed a petition to the Supreme Court and demanded the government regulate labor migration in a way that ensures labor rights and in accordance to the needs of each sector.
With court orders and public pressure building, agreements to regulate labor migration began to come into force. In 2010, an agreement protecting agricultural workers was signed with Thailand, as well as agreements with Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania protecting construction workers. On the other hand, the caregiving sector, the sector in which most of the migrant workers are employed, has until now been left out of any such agreements.
Two years ago, Kav LaOved published a report that detailed the hidden interests behind excluding the caregiving sector from any such agreements and the Israeli placement agencies that were making profits off the debts of migrant workers hoping to earn a living.
In recent months, reports of arrangements to bring in foreign workers by bypassing existing agreements have proliferated throughout the construction, tourism and industrial (factories) sectors. Based on these developments we submitted additional documentation to our existing petition to the Supreme Court of Justice citing the lack of progress on the part of the government in actually enforcing the law which outlaws such brokerage fees. Excitingly on Thursday, we received news about the upcoming agreement with the Philippines! While we have yet to receive a copy of the text, Kav LaOved hopes that In recent months, reports of arrangements to bring in foreign workers by bypassing existing agreements have proliferated throughout the construction, tourism and industrial (factories) sectors. Based on these developments we submitted additional documentation to our existing petition to the Supreme Court of Justice citing the lack of progress on the part of the government in actually enforcing the law which outlaws such brokerage fees. Excitingly on Thursday, we received news about the upcoming agreement with the Philippines! While we have yet to receive a copy of the text, Kav LaOved hopes that this will regulate the labor migration from the Philippines and reduce the illegal brokerage fees currently charged of each worker.
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We had more successful accomplishments in August despite summer break and overbearing heat. We accompanied Lola, an asylum-seeker from Eritrea, in her struggle to retrieve money that was stolen from her by her employer. Although some of the money was retrieved due to our Intervention, her account is still missing hundreds of shekels she is legally entitled to. We visited the village of Jalbun in the west bank, to talk about workers' rights and safety. During the last three years 4 workers from the village died in work accidents in Israel, and it was important for us to hear the residents speak up and provide assistance on how to navigate through the struggle. It was an important visit.
In addition, KLO strongly objected against efforts by Ministry of Labor to minimize its responsibility with regards to the construction workers. We discovered that the Ministry was steadily evading its responsibility to protect these workers and in fact was trying to water down a proposed bill that would have required safety assistants to be placed on all construction sites. We will continue to demand that the government take responsibility for ensuring the safety of workers in this sector.
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Two updates following our last newsletter: After Kav Laoved sent an appeal to the court regarding the Indian workers who were brought to Israel under false promises of a 5 year contract and work visa, both of which were cancelled after the first year. Thanks to KLO’s intervention these workers received a visa and can now continue working to pay off the debts they took to pay the brokerage fees they paid to get permission to work in Israel.
While Kav Laoved's original request to recognize Taher, a construction worker from Turkey as a human trafficking victim due to his exploitative and restrictive contract binding him to his employer Yimazlar Construction company, the court rejected our claim. We are currently working to appeal the decision in collaboration with HaMoked for Refugees and Immigrants.
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With happy holidays, fair employment, love and peace,
Kav Laoved
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Help us show workers they are not alone in their fight for just employment! A monthly donation to Kav LaOved will assist workers in standing up for their rights. Any new donation of at least 300 NIS (approx. $85.00 USD total) - or donations that triple previous ones - will be matched by one of our funding partners.
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To securely donate via "Israel Gives":
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You are more than welcome to like our facebook page, visit our website and send us an email on any subject!
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Nazareth
Mercaz HaBshorah
Phone: 04-6082228
Fax: 153-4-6082228
Wednesday, Friday
9:00-17:00
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| Haifa
Herzl 18, Floor 2
Phone: 04-8643350
Fax: 04-8644238
Hotline Opening Hours:
Monday, Thursday
12:00-16:00
and via email at
information@kavlaoved.org.il
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| Tel Aviv
Nahalat Binyamin 75, Floor 4
Phone: 03-6883766
Fax: 03-6883537
Monday-Thursday
17:00-19:00
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All donations will allow "Kav LaOved" to help workers get their rights at work and the money taken from them by their employers. Even a fixed contribution of 10 NIS per month. To donate by direct debit bank or credit card deposit contribution click here. Association account: Bank Hapoalim branch 781 Account 431095 in the name "Kav LaOved". To send a check to the offices of the association via mail: Kav LaOved PO Box 2319 Tel Aviv 61022
Donations to Kav LaOved within Israel are income tax deductible under Section 46. Tax-deductible donations from abroad, by New Israel Fund. For more info: emilie@kavlaoved.org.il
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