Gafni: Enough of the hypocrisy that Haredim don't want to work. Why do Haredi women earn less?

June 16, 2015   

יו"ר ועדת הכספים, ח''כ משה גפני (יהדות התורה),  נאם  בפני מאות נשים חרדיות עובדות שהתכנסו במלון 'רמדה' בירושלים. "עבורי הכנס הזה הוא היסטוריה", אמר גפני. ''עד היום אומרים שהחרדים לא עובדים, איפה כל הנואמים הללו? שיבואו לכאן לאולם ויראו את כמות הנשים החרדיות שעובדות, שלא שינו את אורח חיים החרדי והתורני במאומה, כי לא התפשרנו על כלום, ולא נתפשר גם הלאה". גפני המשיך: "הציבור החרדי רוצה לעבוד, ישנם רבים שלומדים תורה ונילחם על כך שיוכלו להמשיך בכך, אך רבים אחרים מחפשים עבודה וצריך לסייע בידם".

Gafni added: "From many conversations I have had with heads of industry and managers of large companies, they clearly say that the Haredi women who work for them are of a very high standard, morally, ethically, professionally, they are loyal, they are dedicated, and they are above the average of the employees in their offices.".

Gafni added: "We are working in cooperation with both Economy Minister Aryeh Deri and other ministers, and there is no doubt that the issue of Haredi entrepreneurship is a goal in our eyes.".

MK Gafni, during his remarks, addressed the wages of ultra-Orthodox workers and said: "I am very annoyed that ultra-Orthodox women earn much less than their counterparts. Sometimes both can work in the same room, in the same position - the secular woman will receive twice the salary of her ultra-Orthodox counterpart.".

Gafni promised: "We will act on this issue as we will act on all employment issues in the Haredi sector. It is not possible for Haredim to be discriminated against because they are Haredi. We will promote the law for affirmative action for the Haredi public, and we will work to ensure that there are Haredi directors.".

""Enough with this hypocrisy that the Haredi don't want to work, come to my office, look at the piles of resumes of Haredi men and women looking for work.".