Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 24, 2008 Cheshvan 26, 5769 | | Israel Time: 22:52 (EST+7)
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Last update - 00:00 03/07/2007
Study: W. Bank laborers earn less than 50% of minimum wage
By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent

Palestinian workers employed in West Bank settlements and factories earn less than half the minimum wage stipulated by law, a Knesset study revealed Tuesday.

According to the data compiled ahead of a planned meeting of the Foreign Workers Committee, many of the Palestinian workers receive no health insurance or are insufficiently insured for work-related accidents.

Committee Chairman, MK Ran Cohen (Meretz), called for the discussion after receiving complaints about Palestinian workers' conditions in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
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Some 18 thousand Palestinians are employed in the West Bank in the industrial, agricultural, construction and services sectors.

In order to receive a work permit Palestinians must carry a magnetic card issued by police and Shin Bet security services. Some 120 thousand Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip currently hold such cards, of which 22 thousand work in Israel.

Employers within Israel have quotas for the number of Palestinian workers: 13,500 in construction, 2,000 at factories and services sector, 3,500 in agriculture and 3,000 more in East Jerusalem and Atarot industrial zone in north Jerusalem. West Bank employers, however, are not restricted to quotas and can employ as many Palestinians as they want.

Palestinian workers earn an average of between 11 to 13 shekels an hour and sometimes work over 10 hours a day, according to workers' rights groups and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Such conditions exist because laws cannot be enforced due to lack of manpower and means, such as bullet-proof vehicles, the study claimed.

Road safety laws and sanitation are not inspected properly because the official in charge of enforcement is employed on a part time basis and lacks the authority to fine businesses.

"Due to the many testimonies of infringement of Palestinian workers' rights by Israeli employers in the West Bank, it is worthy to probe whether employers comply to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor laws," the study recommends.
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  1.   Do Not Employ Them At All 10:35  |  Yishai Kohen 03/07/07
  2.   Surprise?! 11:11  |  Esther 03/07/07
  3.   Question for MK Ran Cohen 11:13  |  Johnny Weintraub 03/07/07
  4.   Leftists fools. Is it preferable that they have no work at all? 11:14  |  Nili 03/07/07
  5.   Palestinians earn 50% less than minimum wage 11:14  |  Lily 03/07/07
  6.   Desecrating the Torah (chillul hashem) 11:20  |  Yonatan 03/07/07
  7.   Which laws, Mr. Weintraub? 11:43  |  Murray 03/07/07
  8.   Very interesting Policy 11:44  |  Ethan 03/07/07
  9.   Obviously, the best wage available to them. 11:45  |  Jim 03/07/07
  10.   Apartheid Israeli style 11:52  |  Ben Alofs 03/07/07
  11.   Here in South Africa our people suffered similar injustices 12:36  |  Neil 03/07/07
  12.   How funny! 12:50  |  Dani 03/07/07
  13.   Laborers in the West Bank 13:29  |  Big Al 03/07/07
  14.   how much above the minimal wages get californian strawberry 13:39  |  joe 03/07/07
  15.   Nobody force them to accept the job 14:17  |  infidel 03/07/07
  16.   Religious Jewish WB employers 14:28  |  Yonatan 03/07/07
  17.   Esther of TA 14:28  |  GABE! 03/07/07
  18.   Stupid Milano 14:47  |  Zotario 03/07/07
  19.   Reply to Murray, Post No. 7 14:49  |  Johnny Weintraub 03/07/07
  20.   Strike again? 15:35  |  H50 03/07/07
  21.   Thank you, Mr. Weintraub 15:56  |  Murray 03/07/07
  22.   Johnny #2 15:59  |  Freddie T 03/07/07
  23.   A hillul HaShem, if true 16:00  |  Harry 03/07/07
  24.   H50 16:07  |  Rose 03/07/07
  25.   CARDS MUST BE REVOKED,THEY MUST LEAVE HOLYLAND)))) 16:12  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 03/07/07
  26.   Pals 16:21  |  j10 03/07/07
  27.   What are the wages of the Palestinians in Gaza Nablus etc. 16:45  |  Zev 03/07/07
  28.   #4 Nili 16:47  |  Boycott 03/07/07
  29.   This GABE1 guy #17 is really rabid....... 16:53  |  Esther 03/07/07
  30.   Freddie T 17:32  |  melwin 03/07/07
  31.   Esther 19:55  |  Boycott 03/07/07
  32.   Economics 08:49  |  Shai 22/07/07
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