|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
A migrant worker in Israel is entitled to the same working conditions as an Israeli employee, including private health insurance and proper housing provided by the employer. This section features all you need to know about labor conditions: working hours, salary, taxes, benefits, and more. These are only minimum requirements and you may be offered better terms |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Written contract and wage slip |
Your employer must provide you with a written copy of your employment contract in a language that you understand. The contract should include the following details:
 Your name and name of the employer
 Job description
 Beginning and length of employment period
 Salary, payment dates and deductions
 Working hours and rest days
 Paid vacations, holidays and sick days
 Details of health insurance and housing
Your employer must also provide you, each month, with a detailed wage slip featuring all payments and deductions from your wages. |
|
 back to top |
|
| Working Hours, Vacations and Holidays |
A Full-time Job is defined as:
 In the construction industry - 211 monthly hours
 In other trades – 186 monthly hours
You are entitled to a weekly rest period of at least 36 hours - on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday, depending on your religion.
You are entitled to 14-21 days of paid vacation each year, depending on the number of years you have been with the same employer. Vacation is given either at the end of the year or in the course of the following year.
You are also entitled to 9 paid religious holidays a year according to your religion or the Jewish calendar, as you choose.
You are entitled to 150% pay and an optional vacation day if you worked during a holiday. Caregivers are entitled to payment for working during holidays from day one.
 Detailed information on Jewish holidays
List of holiday dates 2007-2012
Israeli Labor Laws |
|
| back to top |
|
| Salary |
 Monthly minimum wage: NIS 3710.18
 Monthly minimum wage- Construction Industry: NIS 4209.45 (211 hours)
 Monthly minimum wage- Live-In Caregivers: NIS 4823
 Hourly minimum wage: NIS 19.95
 Payday: no later than the 9th of the following month
You are entitled to overtime pay after 9 hours (in a 5-day workweek) or after 8 hours (in a 6-day workweek). For the first two hours of overtime each day, payment is 125% of the regular hourly wage; for each additional hour, the rate is 150% of the regular hourly wage.
It is recommended that you keep a record of your working hours for future dealings with your employer.
Live-in caregivers are not entitled to overtime pay; however, their minimum wage is 30% higher than the regular minimum wage (NIS 4823 monthly). A caregiver is also entitled to a weekly rest day (36 hours), paid vacation days and paid holidays. |
|
| back to top |
|
| Other Benefits |
Travel Allowance: Should you require transportation to get to your workplace, you are entitled to travel allowance in addition to your salary. The allowance will not exceed NIS 21.14 per day or the cost a prepaid monthly bus ticket.
Recuperation Pay: Once you have completed a year of work for the same employer, you are entitled to recuperation pay (in Hebrew: demey havra’a) from your employer. The daily rate is NIS 318 multiplied by 5-7 days (depending on the length of the employment period). Recuperation pay is paid once a year between June and September.
Grant for Construction Workers: If you work in construction for an employment agency (Licensed Manpower Company), your employer should deposit a monthly sum of NIS 700 for you in a special account. You will receive the money (minus 15% income tax) when you leave Israel permanently, on condition that this is before your visa expires.
For updated sums see the Foreign Workers’ Rights Handbook. |
|
| back to top |
|
| Deductions from salary |
Your employer may deduct the following sums from your salary:
Income tax is deducted from your salary by the employer and transferred to the tax authorities. The employer should not deduct from your salary any fees imposed on him for your employment.
National Insurance (In Hebrew: Bituach Leumi) fees are deducted from your salary and cover the following:
 Work-related injuries
 Sick pay and maternity allowance
 Unpaid wages or severance pay in case your employer goes bankrupt (see below)
The rate of national insurance deduction is 0.04% for the first NIS 4,430 of your salary, and 0.87% of every shekel above NIS 4,430.
You may find detailed information on National Insurance benefits and deductions on the National Insurance Institute website.
Housing and Health Insurance: additional deductions include housing expenses and health insurance costs. Your employer may also deduct from your salary sums that you owe them (such as loans and recruitment fees), but only if you agree to it in writing.
Note: your employer is required to pay the authorities various fees for the right to employ migrant workers. The employer should not deduct any such fees from your salary.
The overall deduction cannot exceed 25% of your salary.
Your employer is legally (Hebrew) obliged to arrange accommodation for you. The law (Hebrew) further details the required standards and costs of employees’ residence. |
|
| back to top |
|
| Housing |
Your employer should provide you with proper housing for the entire employment period and a minimum of seven days after the end of employment.
The minimum standards for your residence are:
 Four square meters of sleeping space per worker
 No more than six workers in one room
 Personal cupboard and bedding for each worker
 Heating and ventilation
 Reasonable lighting
 Electric outlets in each room
 Hot and cold water in the bathroom, kitchen and showers
 Sinks, kitchen counters and cupboards, burners, refrigerator, table and chairs
 A Washing machine for 6 workers
 Fire extinguisher
 Reasonable access to the living quarters as well as to bathrooms
Your employer may deduct housing expenses from your salary, the amount depends on the geographical area:
 Jerusalem – NIS 326.82
 Tel Aviv – NIS 371.91
 Haifa – NIS 247.97
 Center – NIS 247.97
 South – NIS 220.42
 North – NIS 202.83
If the employer owns the residence, the maximum deduction is half of the above sums.
The employer may also deduct related expenses (Hebrew), such as property tax and water and electricity charges; the deduction cannot exceed NIS 76.60 (or NIS 65.68 for live-in caregivers). |
|
| back to top |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
