Social Workers Union declare a labour dispute in local government

The Social Workers Union within the Histadrut has officially declared a labour dispute covering approximately 7,400 local government social workers across Israel. This step comes as a direct response to severe workforce shortages and unbearable workloads generated by the implementation of the Social Welfare Services Law for People with Disabilities. While we wholeheartedly endorse the core objective of the legislation, expanding the right of persons with disabilities to live independent lives within their communities, the state’s failure to provide adequate staffing threatens both the workers and the vulnerable populations relying on our services.

Since the legislation went into effect in 2024, social workers have been burdened with an extensive array of complex new responsibilities, including community living support, local service development, continuous training, and expanded consultation protocols. Prior to this law, each social worker in the disability sector already managed an average of 207 families. Under current projections, despite minimal planned position additions, caseloads will surge to an average of 213 families per worker by 2027 and reach an astounding 246 families by 2030.

“We fully support the Social Welfare Services Law for People with Disabilities and its goal of enabling independent living in the community,” said Inbal Hermoni, Chairperson of the Social Workers Union. “However, it is impossible to expand rights and continuously add tasks without securing the necessary staffing. We will not allow this important law to be implemented on the backs of social workers, deepening burnout and harming the very people with disabilities it aims to serve.”

Protecting the pillars of public welfare

Over the past two years, our union has repeatedly warned the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs and the Federation of Local Authorities about these unsustainable conditions. Despite numerous meetings and detailed proposals, authorities have failed to present a viable solution to the staffing deficit. Leaving social workers under continuous, unmanageable pressure directly leads to severe burnout, mass attrition, and a systemic decline in the quality of care provided to families nationwide.

“Social workers carry an immense responsibility and perform holy work for Israeli society,” stated Arnon Bar-David, Chairman of the Histadrut. “The state cannot continue expanding services and adding tasks without ensuring the essential conditions and resources to execute them. The Histadrut stands firmly alongside social workers in their just struggle to ensure they can provide quality professional service, and to guarantee that this critical law is properly implemented, not at the expense of the frontline workforce.”

Decent working conditions, manageable caseloads, and safe staffing ratios are fundamental prerequisites for high-quality public welfare services. The Histadrut remains steadfast in its global commitment to fighting against the devaluation of care work, ensuring that social rights for citizens are always paired with economic justice and workplace dignity for the dedicated professionals who serve them.