Likewise, difficult
work environments
have, on occasion, re-
sulted in abuse.

“You’re always de-
pendent on your em-
ployer for your qual-
ity of life,” said No-
ra Lender, Kibbutz
Maagan Michael’s
administration man-
ager for the elderly
welfare. Both Lend-
er and Bengera con-
firm having person-
ally witnessed cas-
es where employers
physically and men-
tally abused foreign
workers. Hidden
cameras have caught
caretakers hitting el-
derly patients and re-
vealed neglect.

“Like anything
Janet Tauro has picked up some
in life, you take a
Hebrew since coming to Israel
chance,” added Lend-
from Mumbai.

er. Israel may not be perfect- the fathers become the moth-
ly adapted to support a foreign ers,” he noted. “Sometimes
work force, but a significant ef- mothers don’t go back to their
fort has been made to inform husbands. The women feel free
workers of their rights, regulate here. We are not sure that this
payment and provide a genuine is for the better.”
welcome. By law, workers are
Patriarchal and traditionally
entitled to a base salary of 4,300 closed societies are being pried
NIS ($1,235) per month, out of open by what Bengera calls the
which employers can make de- “global competition for a work-
ductions accounting for the live- force.” Israel is providing a path
in caretaker’s room and board. of escape to some individuals
Contracts also stipulate that and a sound mechanism for so-
caretakers receive nine paid cial mobility.

holidays based on their own
Critics may call the system
country’s calendar, and 150-per- exploitative, calling the isola-
cent pay on weekends.

tion that foreign workers en-
It is not a competitive salary dure borderline inhumane.

from a Western perspective, yet
“If a first-degree relative is
it “can be life-changing for fami- working in Israel, it is almost
lies in the third world,” Bengera impossible” for his or her kin
explained. “to visit,” Bengera noted.

“If you had a country that
But workers like Tauro tell a
you could work in and then you different story. Asked how she
could buy your own house, put copes with being so far away
your kids through school, you from her two children, she said,
would take this opportunity,” “It’s not the hardest part of my
he said.

job, it’s the hardest part of my
According to Kavlaoved. life.”
org, a website and hotline pro-
Life’s circumstances led Tau-
viding an overview of foreign ro to the conclusion that seeking
workers’ experiences in Isra- work abroad was the best way
el, nearly 80 percent of foreign to provide for her children, and
caregivers in Israel are female. she is committed to the course
“We prefer to bring female she chose, no matter the hard-
caretakers with families to Is- ship.

rael because they need the in-
“Everything I earn is for my
come and are better motivated,” kids’ education. I believe in edu-
Bengera said.

cation,” Tauro said, adding that
Bengera is conscious that the her work will be complete on-
presence of this workforce is af- ly when her children can stand
fecting the culture of Israel, as up on their own and say, “Mom,
well as that of the foreign work- we’re done with the help. Now
ers’ native countries.

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