Steep rise in the number of fatal accidents at work in 2006
Kav Laoved: most work accidents involving migrant workers are not reported to National Insurance.
The number of fatal accidents in the work place has increased greatly during the first half of 2006. A survey conducted by NGO Kav Laoved, based on data from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor and the National Insurance Institute, reveals that the tendency not to report accidents involving migrant workers is growing.
Kav Laoved manager, Hanna Zohar, reported that during the first half of 2006, 20 deaths resulting from accidents in the workplace have occurred. In 2005 there were 24 deaths and in 2004 there were 15 deaths.
Part of the fatal work accidents involved migrant workers. During the first half of 2006, 6 of the 20 victims were migrant workers. In 2005, 11 migrant workers died in work accidents, and in 2004 there were 5 cases of accident related deaths. The accidents occurred in all branches of work, but particularly in Construction.
According to Zohar, from the year 2000 on the number of work accidents in general decreased. “Therefore, the increase in the number of deaths since 2004 is a disturbing change that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible”.
In most cases falling from heights are the causes of work related accidents in construction. The number of deaths from such accidents rose from 9 cases in 2004, 14 cases in 2005 to 17 cases in the first half of 2006 alone.
Important evidence, according to the survey, is that employers report less than a quarter of work related accidents involving migrant workers to the National Insurance. As a result the workers are deprived of their right to compensation for the days they are absent from work and thus they are often forced to return to work before they have fully recovered from their injuries.
Zohar says that one of the facts that prove that many accidents are not reported is the low number of claims made by migrant workers as opposed to the number made by Israeli workers.
Kav La'Oved, 31/08/2006
http://www.kavlaoved.org.il/index_en.asp
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