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The Histadrut and the Business Organizations Presidency signed on 25th June an agreement to integrate people with disabilities in the labor market in Israel.

Histadrut Chairman Avi Nissenkorn said, "800 thousand potential employees that will be able to make a decent living and integrate in the labour market"

The Histadrut together with the Business Organizations Presidency signed today an unprecedented agreement in favor of the integration of people with disabilities in the labour market.

In the framework of the agreement it was determined that already at the end of one year from the agreement's entrance into effect, an employer that 2% or more of its workers are people with disabilities will be considered as an entity where there is adequate representation, while from the end of two years of the agreement's entrance into effect, an employer that 3% or more of its workers are people with disabilities will be considered as an entity where there is adequate representation.

It was further agreed that it is the responsibility of the employer to appoint in his/her company an employee who will be responsible for the employment of people with disabilities and promoting their appropriate representation for their proper and optimal integration into the workplace. In parallel to the implementation of the agreement, the parties will continue to work to determine the supplementary provisions for the benefit of employers who employ less than 100 employees and this is alongside the establishment of a joint monitoring committee, which will monitor the implementation of the agreement.

Histadrut Chairman Avi Nissenkorn: "This is a festive day in the Israeli society, we are doing the most important thing today and taking care of a population in need of the most solidarity, equality, fraternity and respect. I salute the employers that led the way together with the Histadrut and decided to say this morning an important social statement of the first degree."

Nissenkorn emphasized the importance of integrating people with disabilities in the labor market: "These are 800 thousand potential employees who need to enter the labour market, the integration will help them earn a decent living and integrate into society. Every person is a world unto himself and any help for a person with a disability is by right and not by charity . This is the first agreement that I sign as the Histadrut Chairman and I'm proud of it. It is a statement about the Histadrut and its intentions to raise the banner of assisting the weakened, reducing the gaps, promoting equality and cooperation with the employers in favor of a more equal society - this is the vision we all see before us and I think that today we made a groundbreaking step towards this goal. I would like to ask in this opportunity that the government take up the gauntlet and complete the step also in the public sector. "

In this process Avi Nissenkorn was accompanied by Einav Kabala, Director of the Trade Union Division.

Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the Business Organizations, Zvika Oren: "I congratulate on behalf of all the employers' organizations and myself the cooperation between the business sector and the Histadrut on the signing of a first agreement on such a worthy subject.

We view this agreement as great social importance and are proud to be the first to lead such a process, even before the public sector. I believe that the joint work of a strong Histadrut, a strong business sector and a strong government will lead to a strong and just society. "

Lahav (Israeli Association of the Self-Employed and Business Organizations) Chairman Ehud Rassabi also emphasized the importance of the agreement: "A year and a half ago the Business Organizations Presidency led by Zvika Oren decided in a bold move to initiate a binding collective agreement with the Histadrut for the employment of people with disabilities, to appoint me as their representative to discuss with the Histadrut the essence of the agreement and to approve it. I am pleased that today we can successfully complete this, look with pride on our way and be thankful that we have succeeded in one of the most important tasks for the Israeli society. This is an agreement with great moral, public and economic importance, which can assist in integrating people with disabilities in the community since they are a contributing equivalent factor to the economy, which will contribute to the growth of the annual product in an amount of about NIS 5 billion. I hope that the public sector, after we have laid the way, will learn from us and follow the business sector. "

The agreement signing event was attended by: Israel Electric Corporation Chairman, Yiftach Ron-Tal; Lahav Chairman, Ehud Rassabi; Histadrut Chairman, Avi Nissenkorn; MK Itzik Shmuli; Na'amat Chairperson, Galia Wallach; Director-General of the Manufacturers Association, Amir Hayek; President of the Manufacturers Association, Zvika Oren; Director General of ILAN, Shimon Zurieli and Director-General of the Center for the Blind, Guy Simchi.