The state of Israel anchors modern slavery in its laws

17 May 2011, Kav LaOved קו לעובד (Worker's Hotline) http://www.kavlaoved.org.il (Israel)

by: Yuval Goren

Human rights NGOs strongly oppose the passage of a law in the Israeli Parliament stating that the Minister of Interior can restrict the transition of migrant caregivers between employers and even restrict their work to a specific geographical region.

The law that was approved yesterday in a majority of 26 supporters against 6 opponents has received the title: “the binding law”, as enforcing this law is expected to bind migrant caregivers to a single employer even if the worker requires a change of employer for any reason whatsoever.

The NGOs mentioned yesterday that the failed High Court of Justice scrutiny in an appeal that was submitted regarding a similar policy five years ago. The Court stated that this harsh law badly hurt migrant caregivers as well as their elderly and disabled employers

“Work immigrants will become slaves with no rights”

Attorney Oded Feler from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said yesterday that “almost 150 years after the US abolished slavery, the state of Israel is going to embrace it in its laws. A law that binds migrant workers to their employers and makes it difficult for them to change employers will turn migrant workers into slaves with no rights. The result will be abuse and exploitation of migrant workers and the creation of a legal system that is nothing but an open invitation to cruel exploitation”.

According to Prof. Zvi Bentwich, CEO of Physicians for Human Rights: “This amendment to the law opens a door that can lead tens of thousands of migrant workers into slavery. The state of Israel thus officially joins the grim club of states that anchor modern slavery in their laws and treat migrant workers as if they were mere instruments, with no needs or freedom.”

According to the Knesset member Zehava Galon (Meretz): “This amendment is dangerous for us as a society. It facilitates modern slavery. Approving this bill means approving binding migrant workers and abusing women who come here to make a living through hard work. This law denies those women their right to choose”

Attorney Hanny Ben Israel from Kav LaOved said that “this law will prevent caregivers from escaping conditions of abusive employment. It binds migrant workers to their employers, abuses their economical distress, and expands the violation of their rights. The law violates the most basic rights of migrant workers who are more exposed to violence and sexual abuse from their employers due to the power gap”.

According to Attorney Reut Michaeli, the CEO of Hotline for Migrant Workers: “Just this week we have received a complaint from a Filipina migrant worker who found that her employer put a hidden camera in her bedroom watching her 24 hours a day. Due to the new law this worker and many in her condition will have a hard time leaving their employers, and will have to surrender to their lowest whims”. (Translated by: Tal Croitoru)