News

An extension order that Economy Minister Naftali Bennett signed on February 5, 2014 in the presence of Histadrut Chairman Ofer Eini and representatives of the private employers, is real news to tens of thousands of workers and families in Israel *** The significance of signing the extension order: a significant improvement in the employment conditions of the cleaning sector workers in the private sector.

The extension order signed by Economy Minister Bennett extends the applicability of the provisions of the collective agreement that was signed in July 2013 between the Histadrut and the Cleaning Companies' Organization in Israel.

Ofer Eini, Histadrut Chairman: "We succeeded in the struggle and we will continue to fight for the welfare of workers. This law is a major achievement in that it retrieved the honor to the weak employees in the economy. Together, we beat the discrimination of tens of thousands of workers and set a new reality in the field."

What will the workers receive? Improving the employment conditions of the cleaning sector workers in the private sector will be reflected in several areas:

A. Better wage conditions - the minimum wage of cleaners in the private sector will now be above the minimum wage in the economy and will be updated upwards periodically linked to the framework agreements in the public sector. A cleaner in the private sector who is employed full-time will be entitled to a wage of NIS 4,646 (equivalent to $1,316.14) (hourly rate at a height of NIS 24.98 (equivalent to $7.07)), and the minimum wage of a shift supervisor in the cleaning sector will not be less than NIS 4,852 (equivalent to $1374.50) (hourly rate – NIS 26.09 (equivalent to $7.39)). In addition, starting from the second year onwards, each worker will be entitled to an hourly seniority increment.

B. Study fund for every employee - cleaners in the private sector will be eligible from now for a study fund similar to government employees when the employer's contributions will be 7.5% and the employee's contributions will be 2.5%. The employer according to the extension order will be obligated to contribute monthly payments for the employee to the study fund, starting from 1.10.2014, or when the employee starts working, whichever is later.

C. Increasing the employer's contributions to the pension fund the total of pension contributions, including the employee's and employer's share, will stand at 21.83% for cleaners in the private sector, and also this rate is expected to rise by another percentage starting from July 2015.

D. Convalescence pay according to the public sector rate - cleaners in the private sector will receive from now convalescence pay that is higher by 13% from what is obligated by the law, meaning NIS 423 (equivalent to $119.83) per convalescence day. The number of convalescence days will be determined according to the workers' seniority when the minimum among new workers will be 7 days. The rate is included in the value of the hour.

E. Contribution to provident fund due to the expenses reimbursement components - according to the rules customary for government employees.

F. Fringe benefits in the workplace - a gift for the holiday twice a year when the cost of each gift will be at least NIS 212 (equivalent to $60.05).

G. Subsidizing meals - in workplaces that have a cafeteria subsidized by the service orderer, the worker, who performs his/her work in practice at the same workplace, is entitled to purchase, subsidized by the employer, a meal at the same cafeteria for the amount that is paid for the same meal, by the service orderer's workers who are employed at the same workplace.

H. Work clothes and equipment equipment - the extension order states that employers in the cleaning industry must provide at their expense, at least two sets of work uniform each year when it's made clear in the agreement that from now the employer cannot demand from his/her employees any deposit payment for the work clothes or equipment and no amount will be deduct on this from the worker's wage.

Ofer Eini, Histadrut Chairman, said: "Improving the employment conditions of all cleaners in Israel is part of the social revolution led by the Histadrut. The extension order completes a complex process whose main goal was to strengthen the weak workers in the economy and to restore their honor. I want to thank Minister Bennett for the cooperation with the Histadrut and that he helped us to change the reality of so many workers in Israel. Thanks also to Zvika Oren, President of the Manufacturers Association of Israel and the Federation of Israeli Economic Organizations, for the joint work for the goal."

Avi Nissenkorn, Chairman of the Histadrut's Trade Union Division , joined Eini's words and added, "After the important steps that we initiated to improve the employment conditions of cleaners in the public sector, I welcome the fact that we are completing the process by equalizing the employment conditions of cleaners to the public sector. This is important news for tens of thousands of workers and their families, since this is not only an increase in the wages but the regulation of social benefits that give conditions to the employee that allow a dignified existence. This is a large public whose hard work deserves an appropriate reward and I am pleased that the Histadrut led this struggle with determination. Now the goal is to reach a similar agreement that would also improve the employment conditions of the security workers in the private sector and we will continue to work day and night to make sure it will happen in the near future."