In a recent development, ten prominent trade unions have accused Israel of violating international labor laws by withholding wages and benefits from over 200,000 Palestinian workers since October 7. This accusation comes amid ongoing conflict and has drawn attention from global labor organizations.
The complaint, filed on Friday, alleges that Israel’s actions contravene the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) wage protection convention. The unions claim that the withholding of wages has plunged many Palestinians into severe poverty. This situation began following a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities. In response, Israel launched a significant assault on Gaza, leading to the deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction.
Palestinian workers from Gaza and the West Bank employed in Israel have not received payment for work completed before the attack, nor have they been compensated since then. Assaf Adiv, Executive Director of Maan Workers Association, highlighted the plight of these workers, emphasizing that their suffering from extreme poverty is a direct result of this wage withholding.
The complaint notes that Israel revoked work permits for about 13,000 Palestinian workers from Gaza following the attack. These workers are reported to have unpaid wages for September and October. Additionally, nearly 200,000 West Bank workers employed in Israel have been barred from entering the country and have not received termination notices, leaving them without compensation for both past and future work.
The ILO estimates that Palestinian workers in Israel earned an average of 297.30 shekels ($79) daily, with weekly wages between 2,100 and 2,600 shekels ($565-$700). The unions argue that the continued withholding of wages violates the ILO’s 1959 convention, which Israel ratified.
According to a May ILO report, Palestinian unemployment rates have soared, with economic losses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory estimated at nearly $19 million per day. The situation has led to widespread economic distress, with over 500,000 jobs lost in Gaza and the West Bank, exacerbating the already dire economic conditions.
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