Palestine Reports Alleged Persecution And Exploitation Of Workers In Israel To The United Nations

Illustration of Israel's border with Palestine in the West Bank. (Wikimedia Commons/Orrling)

JAKARTA - Palestinian authorities submitted reports of alleged abuse and exploitation of Palestinian workers in Israel to the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The report said Israeli forces had killed 93 Palestinian workers in 2022 and 31 since the beginning of this year.

The report was submitted to the ILO fact-checking committee by Shaher Saad, secretary general of the Palestinian Labor Union General Federation, at a meeting on Monday.

"Palestinian workers face danger when crossing military checkpoints and barriers into Israel," the report said.

The report also claims illegal brokers and intermediaries cut about $34 million per month from workers' salaries, which it said hampered the implementation of the social security system in Palestine.

Furthermore, during the meeting Palestinian officials complained about the absence of health and work safety standards, as well as illegal working hours.

Faced with at least job opportunities at home and restrictions on movement and development, many Palestinians are forced to work in Israeli settlements.

In 2021, some 37,000 Palestinian workers work in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, mostly in the construction sector, according to an ILO report.

"As in previous years, workers reported dangerous working conditions, frequent payments under minimum wages, incidents of sexual harassment against women and child labor," said ILO.