Social Workers Demand Action on Overburdened Caseloads; Politicians Debate Solutions

Dozens of social workers convened on Wednesday to address the critical issue of overwhelming caseloads that impede their ability to provide essential services. The gathering, initiated by the Social Workers Union within the Histadrut labor federation, included a political panel featuring candidates ahead of the upcoming elections. Social workers from across the country discussed the severe case-burden they experience and its contributing factors, with one veteran worker highlighting the need to speak the Treasury's language to address the "17% vacant positions." The consensus was that difficulty in filling these vacant positions exacerbates the problem, creating a vicious cycle where fear of heavy workloads deters new hires, leading to increased burdens for existing staff.

The Social Workers Union noted that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services has been led by a minister holding multiple portfolios for an extended period, diverting governmental attention from social issues. The union is currently in a labor dispute with the ministry over the implementation of the Social Welfare Services Law for Persons with Disabilities, which imposes extreme workloads on social workers without adequate systemic solutions.

Former Knesset member Michal Rozin, a candidate for the upcoming elections, acknowledged that social laws are often enacted without sufficient funding for their implementation on the ground. She pledged that a future government would avoid repeating this mistake. Other political representatives at the panel included Lilach Haim Idelberg from 'Am Israel Party,' Lili Ben Ami from 'Yisrael Beiteinu,' Michal Negri from 'Bihad,' Inbar Yachzeli from 'Yashar,' and MK Ofer Cassif from 'The Joint List.' While differing on approaches, they demonstrated a shared understanding of the issues.

Notably absent from the panel were representatives from the coalition parties, including Shas, which promotes itself as a social party, and its former Minister of Social Affairs and Social Services, Yaakov Margi. The Likud party, whose MK Haim Katz serves as the responsible minister, also did not send a representative. The primary divergence among the political speakers lay in their proposed solutions, ranging from placing more professionals in ministries and increasing social budgets to emphasizing inter-ministerial cooperation and creative budgeting.