Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

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

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Employment trends, economic and social policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report concerning increases in the employment rate for the total Jewish population aged 25 to 64. According to the Government’s report, the employment rate for women rose from 77.4 per cent in 2012 to 79.3 per cent in 2014, whereas the employment rate for men rose from 81.9 per cent to 82.5 per cent during the same period. The employment rate of members of the Haredi religious community, a focus of governmental employment policy measures, has also continued to increase, reaching 65.4 per cent for women and 41.2 per cent for men in 2012. In 2014, 70.8 per cent of the women and 45.2 per cent of the men from this community were employed. The Government adds that, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics’ Social Survey, the employment rate for persons between 20 and 64 years with moderate disabilities increased from 60 per cent in 2011 to 65 per cent in 2013, while the employment rate of persons with severe disabilities rose from 32 to 42 per cent. The Committee notes that, according to OECD statistics, the unemployment rate in the country decreased from 5.9 per cent in 2014 to 5.2 per cent in 2015. The Committee also notes that further improvements were introduced to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) scheme to increase the EITC by 50 per cent for working mothers and fathers, and efforts were made to increase uptake of the allowance, which increased from 51.8 per cent in the 2011 tax year to 65.3 per cent in the 2012 tax year. The Committee further notes improvements made to increase accessibility of unemployment and income support benefits. The Government indicates that the qualification formula for unemployment benefits was expanded to increase accessibility for day workers. As a result, all workers employed for a period commensurate with the qualification period are now entitled to the benefit even if they were only employed a few days per month. Consequently, the number of people entitled to unemployment benefits increased by 10 per cent. With regard to income support, the Government indicates that the definition of income, on the basis of which the determination of eligibility for income support is made, has been adjusted in favour of applicants, and makes allowances for family support, car ownership and income from real estate. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on active employment measures adopted, with the participation of the social partners, and their outcomes to promote full, productive and sustainable employment opportunities, as laid down in Articles 1–3 of the Convention.

Measures to increase active labour market participation. The Government indicates that over the past three years, the Public Employment Service (PES) has been expanding the package of services it provides, with a focus on recipients of income support. The Committee notes the information provided on the “Employment Circles” pilot programme, which is targeted at new applicants for income support. Launched by the PES in 2014, Employment Circles operates in 15 PES employment offices that were chosen to represent a variety of population groups. The programme implements an improved employment test and provides additional support to enhance applicants’ ability to integrate the labour market. In 2014, its first year, 3,500 persons participated in the programme; and an evaluation showed that after 10 months of operation, the rate of placement for participants was higher than for peers from a control group. The Government also highlights the expansion of the personalized vocational training voucher system established in 2011, which provides partial funding for vocational training for jobseekers, which enables them to obtain training suitable for their needs. To expand access to the vouchers, one-stop employment centres were set up in 2013, and the range of professions included in the system has been increased. As a result, the number of voucher recipients increased from 1,450 in 2011 to 2,380 in 2014, of which 1,565 were from minority groups, including 425 from the Haredi religious community. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on measures aimed at assisting jobseekers in obtaining full, productive and sustainable employment, including information on the impact of the measures taken in the areas of education and vocational training. Please also provide information on the impact of the measures taken in the areas of education and vocational training, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex.

Workers with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s reply to its previous request, indicating that 225,000 persons with disabilities in the country are of working age and are entitled to a general disability pension. As a result of incentives implemented since 2009, the employment rate of persons entitled to a disability pension increased from 16 to 20 per cent, however, the vast majority earns less than half of the average wage. The Government further indicates that, since 2014, the rate of increase of recipients of a general disability pension has aligned itself with the 1.8 per cent growth rate of the overall population aged 18 to 64. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on measures aimed at increasing the employment rate of specific categories of workers, including women, young persons, older workers, workers with disabilities and workers belonging to ethnic or religious minorities, as well as detailed information on the impact of such measures.