Grantee

Worker's Hotline

KAV LA’OVED

GOALS
To protect and promote employment rights of disempowered workers.

BACKGROUND
The Worker's Hotline was founded by activists concerned about infringements of labor rights in Israel. It addresses issues such as nonpayment of wages and social and medical benefits; payment of wages below the statutory minimum; and nonpayment of severance pay. In recent years, the organization's work has been affected by the changes in the Israeli labor market and has consequently diminished its focus on foreign workers while increasing its work regarding the increased exploitation of Israeli workers. It was found that official and public bodies contract security firms and personnel companies that systematically do not pay their employees minimum wage and /or social benefits. The Hotline demands that public agencies, and first and foremost the government, disqualify such companies from public tenders.

STRATEGIES
Provision of aid and individual support; advocacy with decision makers; consciousnessraising and civil enforcement i.e. calling the public to boycott companies which systematically infringe their employees' rights.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Over the past year112,000 inquiries were received; 2,500 people received assistance
• 570 suits were filed of which 465 were won.
• 40 suits were filed with the High Court of Justice on precedent-setting cases.
• Advocacy in the Knesset on relevant legislation.
• Civil enforcement – continue publishing the names of personnel companies that systematically infringe their employees' rights and calling on the public to boycott them.
• Distributing leaflets, running a website, a weekly column in Yedioth Aharonot, lectures and workshops.
• Work to clarify workers' rights to be absent during the war