Health policies for migrant workers in Israel: When the local meets the global

The responses that were developed to the migration waves throughout the world during the last decades ranged from the denial of rights to the provision of a minimum basket of health care services. The Israeli case is of special interest for two main reasons. Firstly, the percentage of migrant workers in Israel is among the highest in the world. The migrant workers' population is estimated to be around 250,000 people, representing 4% of the Israeli population and 14% of its workforce. This high proportion creates unique needs and challenges. The second reason is the distinctiveness of Israel's migration regime. While Israel is a country of immigration, the historical goal of assuring the Jewish people the right to self-determination created a different approach to Jewish and non-Jewish immigrants, as established by the Israeli Law of Return. While the former are entitled to the benefits of citizenship from the moment of their arrival, the latter lack political rights, civil rights and enjoy only few social rights. The present paper analyzes the development of health care policies and services for migrant workers in Israel. It explains them as the result of the interaction between different constraints � employers' needs, the migration regime, public health needs, human rights activists� claims � interacting at the interface between the state and civil society, both at the local and at the national level. Finally, the authors suggest alternative approaches to the current situation.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to
Identify the various health policies for migrant workers taking place in Israel.
Recognize the different forces shaping migrant health care policies.
Analyze the social context in order to improve the efficiency of migrant health care programs.