Social Workers Escalate Protest Over Understaffing and Resources

The Social Workers Union announced on Sunday it will intensify its organizational measures in protest against the state's failure to provide adequate conditions for implementing the Law on Welfare Services for People with Disabilities. The current phase of the protest targets a new initiative by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services to transfer the bureaucratic process for recognizing and diagnosing disabilities to a new online tool. This pilot program is set to launch soon, initially in seven municipalities and eventually expanding to 43.

As part of their sanctions, social workers will not cooperate with the pilot program or undertake any preparatory or implementation tasks. The union, which has been leading this struggle since late July, argues that despite the law's importance, overburdened social workers cannot effectively manage its consequences. "We support improving services for people with disabilities and their families," stated Inbal Hermoni, Chairwoman of the Social Workers Union, adding, "That is precisely why we are warning that a significant reform cannot advance without the necessary personnel and resources for its implementation."

According to union data, approximately 115,000 cases of people with disabilities are currently handled by about 550 social workers in local authorities, averaging over 208 cases per worker. The union projects a 10-12% annual increase in cases, meaning around 10,000 new cases each year, exacerbating the workload without proportional staff and resource increases.

The union contends that implementing the pilot without addressing caseloads and adding staff will deepen the crisis, forcing social services departments to provide more services without the required conditions. "We cannot impose more and more tasks on social workers without providing them with the necessary positions and conditions. The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Federation of Local Authorities must present a real solution that will enable the proper implementation of the law," Hermoni urged.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services responded that it has been preparing for the law's implementation for a long time and has allocated the necessary resources, including staffing. The ministry stated that the union's actions are unclear and that it will not harm service recipients. The ministry also noted that it recently allocated additional positions for disability social workers and service support staff, with further allocations planned. Additionally, the ministry is conducting training for service support personnel and working to build new facilities for services for people with disabilities.

The union is calling for immediate action from the ministry and the Federation of Local Authorities to resolve the crisis. They warned that sanctions will continue, potentially leading to a full strike, until their demands are met.