No Effective Enforcement of Human Trafficking Laws for Exploited Workers
- ACRI
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
On December 10, 2025, ACRI, together with Kav LaOved and Tel Aviv University, appealed to the State Attorney and the Commissioner of Police, demanding that they address the serious failures when it comes to enforcement of offenses involving human trafficking for labor exploitation, including forced labor, holding people in slavery-like conditions, and passport confiscation. The appeal was based on a study conducted by the organizations examining 15 cases of human trafficking for labor exploitation between 2019 and 2024, 13 of which led to opening police investigations.
In the appeal, ACRI Attorney Michal Tadjer of ACRI and Kav LaOved Attorney Elad Kahana described the systemic failure in how these offenses are handled. Investigations are opened late or not at all, continue for years without a clear direction, and are sometimes closed without suspects being questioned and without basic evidence being collected: “The picture that emerges is one of unfamiliarity with the legal framework (which is indeed underdeveloped in Israel due to the absence of indictments) and, apparently, a lack of interest in it as well.” Meanwhile, the victims, most of whom are migrant workers, may leave the country and lose any realistic opportunity to obtain justice.
The organizations warned that this lack of enforcement renders the law against human trafficking for labor exploitation effectively meaningless. It allows abusive employers to continue hiring additional workers while investigations are delayed; infringes on victims’ rights to dignity, liberty, and due process; weakens deterrence against exploitation and modern-day slavery; and ignores the unique reality of migrant workers, whose status and stay in Israel are temporary. The failure to protect workers is particularly troubling in light of Israel’s growing reliance on migrant workers in recent years and the weakening of protections to prevent dependence on employers.
To address these failures, the appeal includes a number of demands: formulating and publishing a clear guideline from the State Attorney for investigating and prosecuting these offenses, establishing enforcement targets and monitoring mechanisms, training police units and prosecutors specializing in trafficking for labor exploitation, adopting procedures and timetables for opening and conducting investigations, and updating the guide for identifying victims of slavery and forced labor.
The police response of January 2026 was general in nature and did not address the documented failures or respond to the practical demands we had presented. No response was received from the Ministry of Justice. Accordingly, on May 5, 2026, we sent another appeal reiterating our demands and warning that in the absence of a comprehensive response we would consider pursuing legal action.
Organizations’ appeal, December 10, 2025 (Heb)
Police response, January 11, 2026 (Heb)
Organizations’ response, May 5, 2026 (Heb)
