State Dept. notes use of slave labor in Israel

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is what the US State Department has to say on Israeli employers
trade of workers-slaves. US State Department "Trafficking in Persons
Report 2003"  affirms indirectly what WAC has explained about the need
to stop altogether the import of this kind of slave labor.
See WAC's site:
www.workersadvicecenter.org <http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/>
For more info:
Contact Michal Friedaman
WAC's spokeperson   +972-53-6839145   +972-53-435546
wacnas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

US State Department "Trafficking in Persons Report 2003"
ISRAEL (Tier 2)
Israel is a destination country for trafficked persons. Women from
Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and other countries in the former Soviet
Union
are trafficked to Israel for the purpose of commercial sexual
exploitation. Persons in search of work are trafficked into situations
of coerced labor, where they endure physical abuse or other extreme
working conditions. Many low-skilled foreign workers in Israel have
their passports withheld, their contracts altered, and suffer
non-payment of salaries of varying degree and duration. Construction
firms and other businesses have brought male laborers from China and
Bulgaria into Israel to work under conditions equivalent to debt
bondage
or involuntary servitude.
The Government of Israel does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so. Although the government has pursued
numerous cases of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation,
it
must continue taking steps to combat trafficking for forced labor and
sexual exploitation. Labor trafficking is a relatively new phenomenon
in
Israel and the government should increase its efforts to prosecute
those
involved in perpetrating labor trafficking over the next year. The
government should ensure that employers comply with labor regulations,
protect the rights of migrant workers, and curb fraud associated with
issuance of work permits.

Prevention
The government, in conjunction with NGOs, has undertaken public
awareness campaigns that include the development and distribution in
Israel of flyers and other information in Russian on trafficking for
commercial sexual exploitation. It also is using its consulates and
embassies in source countries to provide information to potential
victims of sex trafficking.

Prosecution
Israeli law criminalizes trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual
and labor exploitation. Other charges such as rape, false
imprisonment,
retaining a passport, forced labor, prostitution by means of coercion
or
fraud, and kidnapping for the purpose of prostitution may also be
brought. The maximum penalty for aggravated trafficking or trafficking
of a minor is 20 years in prison and the penalties proscribed by law
are
commensurate with those for rape and assault; however, the majority of
cases are resolved through plea bargains that result, on the average,
in
sentences of about two years. Law enforcement actively investigates
allegations of trafficking for sexual exploitation and last year
opened
67 investigations of 138 people and arrested 92 suspects. The
government
prosecuted some 30 cases resulting in 28 plea bargains, many of which
carried sentences ranging from six months to nine years and fines. The
government also is investigating individual policemen for taking
bribes
or tipping off brothels of raids, but these instances of corruption
are
not widespread; a small cadre of dedicated officials works to combat
trafficking, but low staffing and funding hamper the officials'
efforts.
The Ministry of Justice held anti-trafficking seminars for prosecutors
and police. To combat labor trafficking, the Immigration Authority was
established in September 2002 to coordinate government activity
related
to foreign nationals, including the investigation of offenses against
migrant workers. Labor laws determining minimum wage, guaranteed pay
and
annual leave apply to all workers in Israel but enforcement measures
are
mainly directed against migrant workers and not against the employers
who may openly breach the law. The Immigration Authority has an
investigation unit that has uncovered several networks of criminals
involved in document forgery and fraud. Prosecutors filed an
indictment
against four suspects allegedly involved in abusing workers from
Bulgaria. Israel exercises strict control and supervision of its
borders.

Protection
Victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation who are
willing to testify against their traffickers are housed in
police-funded
hostels, and are provided full board, pocket money, and access to
medical care. Victims unwilling to testify are deported. Victims are
not
prosecuted or fined for offenses material to their trafficking, such
as
illegal entry or forged documentation. Police actively encourage
victims
to file complaints against traffickers. The government partially funds
a
hotline. Regulations stipulate that migrant workers who report a
criminal offense are not detained, are allowed access to an
interpreter,
and may stay in Israel as witnesses during a criminal trial; some NGOs
allege that these regulations are sometimes violated.