""Discrimination against Haredi women in the workplace and low wages in many places mean that many women prefer not to go out to work, and this harms their ability to support themselves and their family's income, both current and future.".
This was stated last night by MK Uri Maklev, as part of a motion for order in the Knesset plenum that dealt with a report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at the Ministry of Economy, which raised a series of discrimination phenomena in the workplace.
""If until now there have been general reports on the issue, now this is an official report from a government body that confirms the harsh claims that mothers are harmed at work due to childbirth and their parenthood.".
""About half of the complaints dealt with dismissals, 20 percent complained about worsening conditions, and 20 percent complained about difficulties in getting a job. These complaints are only partial, as not all of them are aware of the possibility of filing a complaint with the commission," MK Maklev said in the discussion. "These figures are not positive in general, but when it comes to an ultra-Orthodox worker, her difficulties are much more severe.".
Maklev also referred to the low wages that Haredi women receive, while their non-Haredi counterparts receive much higher wages for the same work.
""For some employers, this is not about work, but slavery," said Maklev. "They are oppressed at work, oppressed, exploited. How is it conceivable that women who work on a job slot whose employers, personnel companies, receive twice or three times more for their position than what is given to the Haredi worker?"
""This discrimination also exists today in government offices, such as in the field of computing and the like, where activities are outsourced to human resources companies - which employ these women.
""In the modern slavery of 2015, female workers are tied with iron chains because the women signed an employment contract that contained clauses that required the worker to return money to the company if she left in the middle of the investment in her job training.".
""Isn't this slavery? Moreover, in the agreements with the staffing companies, the employing companies undertake not to employ the workers directly in the following years, so the staffing companies guarantee themselves that the worker will remain with them and at a low wage.".
Maklev added: "This anti-slavery activity needs to be more decisive, focused, and with strong oversight and lawsuits against employers.".
In response, Economy Minister Aryeh Deri said that the Employment Equality Commission deals with precisely these complaints, and asked to raise public awareness to contact the commission. "Israel is in one of the highest places in the Western world in women's employment. The figures in the ultra-Orthodox sector are also above the European average.".
At the end of the discussion on the issue, the Knesset plenum approved transferring the issue to an expanded discussion in the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
