The threat of a general strike has been averted. The minimum monthly wage in the private sector will be raised from NIS 4,300 to NIS 5,000 in several stages over the next two years, it was agreed this morning in talks between Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) chairman Avi Nissenkorn and Federation of Israeli Employers chairman Zvika Oren.
Ministry of Finance Wage Department head Kobi Amsalem was not a party to the agreement so that as things stand any wage hike will not include public sector employees.
Outgoing Minister of Finance Yair Lapid said yesterday that it is possible to reach agreement on the minimum wage within a few days but it seems that the firing of Lapid has reshuffled the deck in terms of the Ministry of Finance.
The Histadrut said that this will be the biggest rise in the minimum wage ever agreed upon. The Histadrut expects the government to fall into line on the agreement when the political situation stabilizes.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 3, 2014
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