Thousands of social workers in Israel declare labor dispute over staffing shortages
The Union of Social Workers at the Histadrut has declared a labor dispute in local government, affecting approximately 7,400 employees. The union claims that the implementation of the Social Services for People with Disabilities Law has added significant burdens without sufficient additional staff, leading to burnout.
The Union of Social Workers at the Histadrut declared a labor dispute on Monday in local government, citing the impact of the Social Services for People with Disabilities Law on working conditions and the ability to provide professional, high-quality service. The dispute affects approximately 7,400 social workers across local authorities.
According to the union, the law, which took effect in 2024 and expands the rights of people with disabilities to independent living, has added a series of new responsibilities. These include accompanying individuals moving into community housing, developing new solutions, professional training, and managing expanded consultation procedures—all without the necessary manpower to implement the law effectively.
The union notes that even before the law's enactment, each social worker in the disability sector handled an average of 207 families. Despite planned additions to staff, data presented by the union suggests the workload will rise to an average of 213 families per worker by 2027 and 246 by 2030.
The union warns that the current situation threatens the quality of services for people with disabilities and their families, while exacerbating a staffing crisis as workers leave the field. The union claims it alerted the Ministry of Welfare and the Federation of Local Authorities during the law's formulation, but no solution has been found over the past two years.
Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David stated:
"Social workers carry a huge responsibility and do holy work for the sake of Israeli society. The state cannot continue to expand services and pile on more tasks without ensuring the resources required to perform them. The Histadrut stands by the social workers in their just struggle to ensure this important law is implemented correctly and not at the expense of the workers on the front line."
Chair of the Union of Social Workers, Inbal Hermoni, added:
"We fully support the Social Services for People with Disabilities Law and its goal of enabling independent living. However, it is impossible to expand rights without ensuring the necessary manpower. We will not agree to this law being implemented on the backs of social workers, deepening workloads and burnout. This labor dispute is intended to ensure the state allocates the resources necessary for professional and proper implementation."
