Another success in WAC’s struggle for direct employment:
On Sunday, 3 Nov. 2013, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in Jerusalem will directly employ 13 workers who had been employed for years via a manpower company. The move is the result of a suit filed by the Workers Advice Center (WAC-Maan).
WAC’s case is based on a precedential ruling from 17 March 2013, based on article 12a of the Manpower Companies Law, in which the court ordered the IAA to take on 21 archeological excavation workers who had been employed for a long period via a manpower company. These workers have already been registered as direct employees of the IAA.
In March, WAC demanded that a further 13 workers also be taken on directly, and on 22 Oct. 2013 the Jerusalem Labor Court ruled that the IAA must do so. This is a significant achievement which will change the lives of these workers, assisting them to escape the circle of poverty and shake off their dependence on national insurance and the employment services.
“Just this week I received notice of dismissal from the manpower company that employed me, claiming that I had worked more than eight months,” said Jamal Abu Hadir, who will be in direct employment for the first time since he began work with the IAA in 2005. “They assured me that if I contact them in six months’ time, I’ll be taken on straight away.”
“I’ve been working in excavations since 2005,” explained Samir Razem. “Despite my seniority and experience, and the fact that the archeologists appreciate my work, the manpower company would fire me every few months.”
This ruling ends WAC’s struggle of four years against the IAA, which began in 2009. Some 10% of the labor force in Israel is employed via manpower companies, in part-time positions, liable to dismissal every eight months, with no employment or economic security and continually facing poverty. WAC-Maan will continue to struggle to put an end to this employment practice.
For further information, please contact:
WAC-Maan spokesperson Michal Schwartz, 050-4330067
WAC-Maan Jerusalem coordinator Erez Wagner, 050-7596492
