More than 7,000 social workers working in the Welfare Ministry and local welfare offices began sanctions on Thursday in protest of their heavy workload.  The social workers say the system of local welfare offices needs to hire an additional 1,000 people.

Social workers explained that at any given time the average worker is expected to handle between 100 and 200 cases.  The heavy caseload does not allow the workers to handle each case as needed, union representatives explained.

The sanctions will begin with a refusal to accept new cases.  If the government does not agree to their demands, social workers say they will begin a full strike after Passover.