Israeli Gov't sells expired protective kits to foreign workers
anti-war | 13.03.2003 19:43
Gov't sells expired protective kits to foreign workers
By Anat Cygielman
The defense establishment is selling gas masks and atropin injections that have passed their expiry dates to foreign workers, according to a study conducted by Haaretz.
The study revealed that the gas masks on sale to foreign workers were manufactured in 1982, whereas the gas masks distributed to Israeli citizens are from 1984 and later. The atropin injections for foreigners are from 1995, while Israelis are getting injections made in 1996 and later.
Not only are the gas masks and injections outdated, and hence unfit for use, but the foreign workers are being made to pay NIS 200 for the kits. Half of this will be reimbursed when they return their kits, while the remainder of the sum will remain with the defense establishment.
There are an estimated 200,000 foreign workers in Israel.
The state ruled that these workers were not eligible for free gas-mask kits, but decided in January that the foreigners would be allowed to purchase kits at special distribution centers set up countrywide at Hamashbir Lazarchan branches and post offices.
The foreign workers who showed up to buy kits were not told the masks they were buying were different from those distributed to Israelis, and were given no information about the expiry issue. In contrast, Israeli citizens have been instructed by the Home Front Command to replace masks manufactured prior to 1984 and atropin injections made before 1996.
Each gas-mask kit comes with a 22-number bar code, with the third and fourth digits indicating the year of manufacture of the mask. The 13th and 14th digits denote the injection's production date.
Foreign workers have said that their requests to replace kits purchased in the past with new ones were rejected, with the workers being required to pay the full sum for their new kits.
www.haaretz.co.il
By Anat Cygielman
The defense establishment is selling gas masks and atropin injections that have passed their expiry dates to foreign workers, according to a study conducted by Haaretz.
The study revealed that the gas masks on sale to foreign workers were manufactured in 1982, whereas the gas masks distributed to Israeli citizens are from 1984 and later. The atropin injections for foreigners are from 1995, while Israelis are getting injections made in 1996 and later.
Not only are the gas masks and injections outdated, and hence unfit for use, but the foreign workers are being made to pay NIS 200 for the kits. Half of this will be reimbursed when they return their kits, while the remainder of the sum will remain with the defense establishment.
There are an estimated 200,000 foreign workers in Israel.
The state ruled that these workers were not eligible for free gas-mask kits, but decided in January that the foreigners would be allowed to purchase kits at special distribution centers set up countrywide at Hamashbir Lazarchan branches and post offices.
The foreign workers who showed up to buy kits were not told the masks they were buying were different from those distributed to Israelis, and were given no information about the expiry issue. In contrast, Israeli citizens have been instructed by the Home Front Command to replace masks manufactured prior to 1984 and atropin injections made before 1996.
Each gas-mask kit comes with a 22-number bar code, with the third and fourth digits indicating the year of manufacture of the mask. The 13th and 14th digits denote the injection's production date.
Foreign workers have said that their requests to replace kits purchased in the past with new ones were rejected, with the workers being required to pay the full sum for their new kits.
www.haaretz.co.il
anti-war