What Are the Earnings of a Palestinian Labourer
and what Remains After "Occupation Offsetting"?
From a report:
Hebron and South Hebron Mountains, Wednesday, 25.7.07 pm
Observing & reporting: Edna S, Zippora Z
16:00 - 19:30
End of shift at Sansana Checkpoint:
18:15 - 19:15 at this hour there are no lines since the workers come in small groups (according to the size of the vehicles that bring them). Passage is fast – not more than five minutes. At 19:00 the crossing closes.
The workers said that they have permits to stay until 22:00, but they have to arrive before closing time at 19:00.
A worker from Ramadia related that he earns 3,000 shekels a month (work day of 10 hours), which he receives only at the end of the month which makes things very difficult.
According to him, the permit to stay costs 1,200 shekels a month (1,500 shekels for a building worker), taxis cost almost 1,000 shekels a month. He barely has anything left to feed his children. He does not buy food or drink during the work day, and now he is very hungry.
He says that, at the end of the year, the Israeli employer matches off the low wages paid to workers against income tax, but of course he keeps that money to himself.