The Beer Sheva Labor Court recently upheld a verdict for a compromise settlement in the lawsuit of 15 kaysim - religious figures in the Ethiopian community - against the state and religious councils, claiming wage and social rights differences.
The compromise agreement was reached with the encouragement of the National Court and based on its rulings in its ruling dated May 1, 2020, which returned the hearing to the Regional Court to clarify the underpaid wages.
The lawsuit was heard in three instances - the regional court, the national court, and back to the regional court - and included complex questions regarding, among other things, the identity of the employer, the appropriate salary level, claims of limitation, and rights under the Equal Opportunities Law.
Over the years, the state has attempted to reconcile the parties on the one hand and preserve the public interest on the other, while repeatedly proposing solutions for an agreed-upon settlement of the issue. After there were no agreements between the parties, upon the return of the proceedings from the national court to the regional court and in order to assist in promoting an agreed-upon solution, the state bore the costs of experts to examine the financial data and perform objective calculations in accordance with the guiding rules given by the court.
Along the way, the state acted out of recognition of the importance of the issue and the need to reach a fair and dignified solution, while offering many creative solutions to end the lawsuit, including within the framework of mediation meetings.
Despite rigid positions on the part of some of the plaintiffs, efforts at dialogue continued, and finally - with the assistance of the court - the parties reached agreements that were given the force of a judgment, in light of the individual circumstances of the case and in light of the court's recommendation. .
Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan thanked the Budget Division at the Ministry of Finance and all the parties who understood that it was time to end the lawsuit that has been going on for over 17 years - and thus end the affair.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Religious Services, represented in the proceedings by the Southern District Attorney's Office (Civil) and the State Attorney's Office - Labor Law, have worked together over the years to promote a proper solution and to regularize the status of the cases.
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