Social Workers

Every year, about 1,500 new social workers finish their studies, but many of them do not reach the public sector, and those who do often drop out within two years. Severe burnout, a salary that does not keep up with the cost of living, and an unimaginable workload push them out. "When I started dreaming about work at night, I realized that was enough."

Ahead of the elections, the Social Workers Union is demanding a cap on the number of cases per professional. Current caseloads are four times the target, with some security sector workers managing up to 1,000 disabled IDF veterans.

Social workers continue to save lives even during air raid sirens, but they pay a heavy mental price. Rates of secondary trauma and burnout are skyrocketing, and the collapse of the system could endanger patients and Israel's social resilience.

The Union of Social Workers at the Histadrut has declared a labor dispute in local government, affecting approximately 7,400 employees. The union claims that the implementation of the Social Services for People with Disabilities Law has added significant burdens without sufficient additional staff, leading to burnout.