Not all social workers in the welfare, health and education systems are entitled to the same employment benefits as their peers. As many as one-third of social workers are employed through manpower agencies or nonprofit organizations instead of the civil service or local government.

Research conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Dr. Roni Kaufman found that 30 percent of the extra-government social workers had no pension plan, almost 40 percent had no continuing-education fund, 37 percent are not paid extra vacation time and 32 percent are not reimbursed for travel.

Sixty percent of these social workers are not offered study days, compared to 23 percent of their civil service or local government colleagues. In addition, 70 percent are not reimbursed for telephone costs, as compared to 18 percent in the civil service.

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"When the social worker is exploited and unable to earn a livelihood, they are unable to fulfill their function," says Kaufman, who plans more research into what is seen as one of the most serious problems hampering the social work profession and promotion of social change.

The research also indicates damage to the basic rights of social workers, as those from agencies and nonprofit organizations work side-by-side with civil service and government colleagues, in the same positions, but are paid less and receive fewer benefits despite their higher overall education level.

Kaufman found that 62 percent are unhappy with their employer and feel they have limited job security: 41 percent work on one-year contracts renewed annually, while 20 percent have no contract whatsoever.

The extra-government social workers have average seniority of three years, half of the average in public service.

"The endless turnover harms social workers' ability to develop trust and connect with patients. It also prevents them from acquiring experience, accruing knowledge and providing quality service," says Itzik Perry, the chairman of the social workers union. Perry points out that the Welfare Ministry employs social workers and inspectors through manpower agencies so they are not considered state employees. Local NPOs for the elderly also employ social workers to deal with children and teenagers, serving as a channel through which to transmit salary, Perry says. "There are NPOs that become manpower agencies 'in costume,'" he adds.

Close to 30 percent of social workers in hospitals are employed through various channels such as research funds and organizations, according to Perry, who believes the only way to change the situation is to unionize.

Kaufman found that at least 50 percent of the non-government social workers are not members of any union, while 91 percent of civil service and local government social workers are members. The union's annual convention today in Ashkelon plans to discuss this issue.