In May 2024, the government adopted a far-reaching decision that dramatically increased the number of foreign workers allowed into Israel, up to a ceiling of 330,000 workers. Since this decision, a committee of Ministries’ CEOs headed by the Prime Minister’s Office has been approving the wholesale import of tens of thousands of workers in various sectors.
Yet, despite efforts to increase the number of migrant workers, mainly from India, this move has been delayed and does not provide practical economic solutions. Meanwhile, the harm to Palestinian workers continues to be severe. In a petition to the High Court of Justice submitted at the end of July, MAAN joined Kav Laoved and other organizations, who warned about the grave implications of massive importation of workers, especially when done without supervision and transparency. The impact could lead to modern slavery, severely harm Palestinian workers, and disrupt the entire Israeli labor market.
The Histadrut and the National Histadrut Turn Their Backs on Palestinian Workers.
Contrary to the clear and unequivocal call from MAAN for the return of Palestinian workers to the Israeli labor market, we witnessed a negative stance from two major workers' organizations in Israel since the war. At the end of December 2023, the Likud backed National Histadrut published an official document calling for the complete and final cessation of employing Palestinians in Israel. It further called to replace them with foreign workers, using nationalistic and populist arguments. Recently, the General Histadrut, the biggest union in Israel also called for the importation of 100,000 migrant workers, ignoring the need to allow the return of Palestinians. MAAN strongly opposes the stance of these two organizations regarding Palestinian workers who have paid membership fees to the General and National Histadrut for years. Their stance contradicts the principle of solidarity on which workers' unions worldwide were built.
Two labour Federations – Histadrut and Histadrut Leumit – Turn Their Backs on Palestinian Workers
MAAN Signs Collective Agreement with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel
In May, employees of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) joined MAAN, following a quick negotiation process on a collective agreement that improves their wages (retroactively from the beginning of the year). "We are very pleased to have joined the MAAN family and the professional assistance we received from them, which led to a quick signing of the agreement. "We look forward to many years of organized work that benefits the employees," said Attorney Debbie Gild Hayo, a member of the workers' committee. The agreement at ACRI joins a series of collective agreements MAAN has negotiated in human rights organizations, including Physicians for Human Rights, The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, B'Tselem, and more. As a union, MAAN sees itself as a partner fully committed to the mission of human rights organizations and their dedicated employees.
Green Economy: Women Grow Bees and Connect to the Environment and to Peace
Seventeen inspiring Arab and Jewish women from the Triangle area, participated in a unique opportunity to learn about biodynamic beekeeping at MAAN's center in Baqa al-Gharbiyeh. This project, created in partnership with Sindyanna of Galilee, included six packed learning sessions led by Yossi Oud, an expert of biodynamic beekeeping that connects women to the environment. Under his inspiring guidance, the women acquired skills in beekeeping, and each received a hive and a swarm of bees. Alongside organizing the course, Wafa Tayara, MAAN's coordinator in the Triangle, and Roni Ben Efrat, MAAN's resource development coordinator, joined the "Bees for Peace" coalition led by Yossi Oud. For the article, see here. See also what Michelle Anne - one of the Participants - wrote on her experience
MAAN in East Jerusalem: Significant Achievements for workers Since the Outbreak of the War
Since the outbreak of the war, on October 7, MAAN has handled the rights claims of over 300 residents of East Jerusalem in areas such as labor rights, income support, unemployment benefits, work accidents, opening checkpoints, and receiving food stamps. These achievements can be translated into over 3 million shekels of benefits returned to rights holders. Over 40% of those who received assistance were women.
Significant Achievements of MAAN – Workers Association in Protecting Workers’ Rights
Bread and Roses Gallery: An Initiative to Promote Art and Social Activity in Tel Aviv
In mid-August 2024, the "Bread and Roses" art gallery will open a new space in Tel Aviv. The Gallery aims to promote art and social activities.
The new space will produce the annual Bread and Roses exhibition organized by MAAN in partnership with the Sindyanna of Galilee fair trade association. Over the years, a large community, comprising hundreds of artists – Jews and Arabs – has formed around the "Bread and Roses" exhibition and the initiative holds an impressive collection of art work.
This unique project promotes the Women and Work project, led by MAAN for 19 years. The new gallery, located in the heart of Kirya Hamlacha in southern Tel Aviv, where many art galleries already operate, will be a center for progressive social and artistic activity fostering Jewish-Arab partnership.
About the Exhibition | לחם ושושנים
INVITATION The 18th annual "Bread and Roses" exhibition will take place on March 6-9, 2024 Maya Gallery Shvil Hameretz 2 (Second Floor), Tel Aviv-Jaffa Exhibition Background Israeli society underwent a profound crisis on October 7.
