The Hidden Costs of Occupation: Unpaid Labor and Financial Exploitation
THE CLAIM: The New Arab reports that Palestinian trade unions have filed a complaint alleging Israel owes $9 billion in unpaid compensation to Palestinian workers. The complaint, lodged with the International Labour Organization (ILO), accuses Israel of violating the Protection of Wages Convention No. 95, ratified by Israel in 1959. This includes allegations of missing deductions for pensions,
social security, and severance pay. THE EVIDENCE: The $9 billion figure stems from a study by the Palestinian Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) and consultations with affected workers. This is not a new issue; complaints about withheld funds and inadequate social protections for Palestinian laborers have been ongoing for decades, often framed by Israeli authorities as complex administrative
challenges. Data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics confirms that tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza have historically worked within Israel, forming a crucial, often low-wage, labor pool. THE CONTRADICTIONS: Israel's ratification of ILO Convention No. 95 (1959) obliges it to ensure prompt and full payment of wages, including proper deductions for social
welfare. Yet, the consistent complaints and the sheer scale of the alleged debt—$9 billion over decades—directly contradict its obligations as a signatory. The argument that these are 'internal' matters overlooks the fact that the employment relationship is inherently cross-border, originating from an internationally recognized occupation. Historically, these funds are often collected by Israeli