Kav LaOved

Kav LaOved – Worker’s Hotline is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the defense of workers’ rights and the enforcement of Israeli labor law designed to protect every worker in Israel, irrespective of nationality, religion, gender, and legal status. Since its establishment in 1991, Kav LaOved has helped workers from all sectors realize and uphold their rights. Kav LaOved’s services target the most disadvantaged workers in Israel, including those employed by contracts and receiving low wages, Arab citizens of Israel, Palestinians, migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and new immigrants. Vision Kav LaOved envisions an Israeli society in which workers, regardless of gender, religion, nationality, race, age and legal status in the Israeli labor market, are respected, valued, and recognized for their contributions via full and complete protection of their labor rights. Mission Kav LaOved aspires to prevent abuse and exploitation of workers by demanding fair employment terms and conditions, addressing both individual cases and greater phenomena of violation of workers’ rights. Kav LaOved strives to improve and strengthen: - Workers’ Awareness in order to inform, educate, and empower workers to know and defend their own labor rights - State Policy in order to create, amend, and enforce legislation to improve employment terms and conditions in the Israeli labor market - Social Responsibility in order to influence Israeli culture and society to recognize the rights of disadvantaged workers in the Israeli labor market and uphold principles of social justice Modes of Action - Individual assistance to workers via public reception hours, the internet, and Kav LaOved’s telephone hotline in order to find effective and safe solutions for workers experiencing abuse and exploitation. - Public advocacy through development of position papers, attendance in parliamentary committees, ongoing dialogue with various government ministries, and principled petitions to Israeli labor courts. - Cooperative partnership with state authorities, monitoring current policies, encouraging effective enforcement over employers, and supervising the granting of employment licenses and work permits. - Legal and procedural support by advising and representing workers and partaking in litigation. - Education and community outreach by raising awareness of workers’ rights in individual workers and society at large via distribution of “Zchutonim” (informational flyers detailing workers’ legal rights) in numerous languages, publishing thematic flyers, research and reports, and conducting workshops and lectures for workers as well as students, lawyers, etc. - Partnerships with a wide range of Israeli and international organizations, unions, and institutions for human and workers’ rights.