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UNI Global Union congratulated Israeli trade union federation Histadrut on its win of direct employment and other improvements for thousands of contract workers after a four-day general strike that included all government ministries, local authorities, train, banks, stock exchange, airport, seaports and other public services.



The solidarity strike, which ended on 12 February, was in protest at the government's use of contract workers. Organised workers held the strike for the benefit of the unorganised contract workers who earn less and receive fewer benefits than their directly employed colleagues, Histadrut said.



On February 12, Histadrut and the Finance Ministry reached an agreement that includes “significant accomplishments for the benefit of the contract workers,” the trade union centre said in a statement.



Before the strike, Histadrut reached an agreement with the Co-ordinating Bureau of Economic Organisations which represents private companies. That agreement ensures that contract workers who have worked full time for at least one year are hired directly, rather than through an employment agency.



Histadrut outlined its main achievements as the following:



1. Direct employment of thousands of contract workers in the public and private sectors.



2. Cancelling the indirect "shoulder to shoulder" employment in the public sector.



3. Linkage to the public sector wage agreements through significant wage improvement of cleaners and security workers in the public sector.



4. Equalising conditions of contract workers to those directly employed in the private sector.





Click on “Related Documents” to read the full statement from Histradrut in English.