Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Israel (Ratification: 1970)

Employment trends and coordination of economic and social policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s detailed report in relation to its 2011 direct request. The Government indicates that a policy to enhance support to low-income working families is being pursued with a view to reducing poverty and promoting workers’ entry into the labour market. In 2011 the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was expanded to increase the number of beneficiaries and the level of the benefits. Additionally, in order to stimulate employment and to ease the financial burden on families with children, the number of tax credit points for working parents of preschool children was raised in 2012, expected to benefit about 280,000 families. Moreover, in 2011 the number of day-care centres increased, particularly those with state support, as well as day-care subsidies for low-income families. The Committee notes the gradual extension of the Compulsory Education Law, which ensures publicly funded free education, to children aged 3 and 4 years old, irrespective of whether their parents are working or not. The Government indicates that several recent employment and active labour market measures were adopted following the recommendations of the Trajtemberg Committee on socio-economic change, which is made up of government, academia and private sector representatives.The Committee notes that, based on OECD statistics, the country’s economy grew at 4.8 per cent both in 2010 and in 2011 and the unemployment rate fell from 6.6 per cent in 2010 to 5.6 per cent in 2011. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide in its next report information on active employment measures adopted, with the participation of the social partners, and their outcomes with the objective to eliminate poverty in the country and to promote full, productive and lasting employment opportunities, as required by Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention.

Implementation of active labour market measures. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Public Employment Service (PES) has taken steps to improve access to and the quality of services provided to jobseekers, with an emphasis on the peripheral geographic areas. The Government reports that the number of PES consultants was expected to reach 200 persons in 2012. The Government also indicates that the PES offers different types of workshops for jobseekers. The Committee notes with interest that an upgraded management information system to support the activities of the PES is expected to be operational by 2013. By means of an advanced artificial intelligence analysis, this system mainly intends to gather information on employers and jobseekers and to improve the matching between the services provided and the users’ needs. Furthermore, the Government indicates in its report on the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), received in August 2013, that the Manpower Training and Development Bureau (MTDB) at the Ministry of the Economy is using a voucher scheme, which adapts the training offer to the jobseeker’s personal needs, as a vocational training option. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on how the PES contributes to assist workers and employers in finding suitable employment. Please also include information on the impact of the measures taken in the area of education and training policies to ensure the integration of jobseekers in the labour market.

Specific categories of vulnerable workers. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that an accrued participation of people from the ultra Orthodox community in the labour market is crucial both to reduce poverty and dependence on public benefits and to integrate that community into the society. As a result of several measures implemented, according to the Bank of Israel, the employment rate of ultra-Orthodox men between 25 and 64 years of age increased from 39.6 per cent in 2008 to 45.6 per cent in 2011, and the employment rate of ultra-Orthodox women in the same age group increased from 57.4 per cent in 2008 to 61.2 per cent in 2011. With regard to other categories of vulnerable workers, the Government indicates that 55 employment programmes focusing on persons with disabilities and other persons and communities at risk are currently being implemented, serving about 31,000 participants so far. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures aimed at increasing the employment level of vulnerable categories of workers.