Social Workers Expand Sanctions Over Welfare Reform Workload
The Union of Social Workers escalated labor sanctions on Sunday, announcing local authorities will boycott the Welfare Ministry's new disability services pilot due to severe personnel shortages and an average of 208 cases per social worker.
The Union of Social Workers announced on Sunday the escalation of its labor dispute regarding the implementation of the Welfare Services Law for People with Disabilities. As part of the new organizational measure, local authority social workers will not cooperate with the Welfare Ministry's pilot program, which is scheduled to begin gradually in mid-October, and will not perform preparation or implementation tasks.
Impact on Services for People with Disabilities
As a result, individuals with disabilities who were supposed to begin receiving new services mandated by law will not receive them. Among the affected services are personal support packages, guidance in managing an independent household, assistance with arrangements and social integration, and support for independent living through subsidized adapted community housing solutions.
The labor dispute was declared on July 29, and initial sanctions began on September 6. During this phase, disability social workers in local authorities stopped participating in meetings, training sessions, and activities organized by the Welfare Ministry's Disability Administration.
Severe Workload and Staffing Shortages
According to the union, the pilot's implementation without addressing heavy workloads and adding necessary manpower will deepen the crisis. The union emphasizes its support for the law's goals, but demands that implementation be carried out professionally and sustainably.
"We support improving services for people with disabilities and their families, and that is why we are warning that it is impossible to advance a significant reform without the manpower and resources required for its implementation," stated union chair Inbal Hermoni.
Union data indicates that welfare services currently manage approximately 115,000 cases of individuals with disabilities, handled by roughly 550 local authority social workers—averaging over 208 cases per worker. Meanwhile, case numbers are projected to grow by 10% to 12% annually, adding about 10,000 new cases each year.
