The Ministry of Labor opened a website for teenagers called: "Fairly Employed" to advise them about their employment rights during the vacation. According to the data, about a quarter of the country's youth are employed during the summer vacation, and they should be aware of the rights they are legally entitled to.

Inquiries concerning rights violations will be thoroughly investigated and if it is found that an employer has indeed violated the rights of the youth working for him, the Ministry of Labor will initiate a procedure in accordance with the powers of the administration, such as imposing financial sanctions and filing criminal indictments if necessary.

About 170 thousand teenagers worked in 2022 (this is about 22% of the country's youth). It is important to inform them about their legal rights and assure them that there is someone who will support them regarding their rights at work.

A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Labor found that the most youth do not know that they get advice or complain about the rights granted to them by law. In the past year, the Ministry imposed 265 warnings and other financial sanctions totaling NIS 2 million on employers who violated the Youth Labor Law and 9 sentences were imposed on various employers for violations of the laws.

For your convenience, the Ministry of Labor has shared this information about youth employment rights:

1. At what age can you start?

• Girls and boys must not be employed under the age of 14!
• If you are 14 and not yet 16, you may be employed only during official school holidays.
• If you are 16 years old, you may be employed during the school year, only after school hours.
• If you are apprentices working in order to acquire a profession as part of guided practical work (in addition to vocational studies), according to the Apprenticeship Law you are allowed to be employed during the school year from the age of 15.

2. What documents should I have in order to start working?                                                                      

Go to the family doctor and ask for a medical certificate for employment and submit it to the employer. A copy of an ID card or of one of the parents must be attached to the medical certificate submitted to the employer. The employer must not start your employment before these documents have been submitted to him.

3. Should I require any documents from the employer at the beginning of my employment?

The employer is required to provide you within 7 days from the day the work begins a form called a notice to the employee, the purpose of which is to clarify the nature of the work you must perform as well as your rights. The notice to the employee should include, among other things:

• The identity of the employer and the employee.
• Date of commencement of work and duration of work period.
• The essentials of the employee's role.
• The name and position of the employee's direct supervisor.
• The amount of the employee's hourly wage.
• The length of the working day and the working week.
• Additional details that could help the employee know better what is expected of him during his work period.

4. What is the minimum wage I deserve?

In the following table you can find the minimum hourly rate that the employer is obliged to pay you. Of course, the employer can offer a salary higher than the minimum rate. As of 04/01/2023, the minimum wage for working youth was updated according to the following rates:

Hourly wage (based on 173 hours per month). Monthly salary (up to 40 hours per week)

Up to the age of 16: Hourly wage: 22.54 NIS. Monthly wage: 3,900.22 NIS

Up to the age of 17: Hourly wage: 24.15 NIS. Monthly wage: 4,178.81 NIS

Up to the age of 18: Hourly wage: 26.73 NIS. Monthly wage: 4,624.55 NIS

For further important information such as tips and travel expenses, work hours and breaks please see the page on the website: 

https://www.gov.il/he/departments/news/fairly-employed

The site also gives information about how to submit a complaint - it can be anonymous.

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