The Israeli minimum wage is a monthly salary of 3,266.58 New Israel Shekels (about 640 euros). The daily minimum wage for a six-day work week is 130.66 New Israel Shekels (or about 25 euros). The daily minimum wage for a five-day work week is 150.77 New Israel Shekels. For more detailed information regarding Israeli labour laws consult the website of the State of Israel Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs Division of Labour Relations:

• http://www.moital.gov.il/NR/exeres/

Once you’ve been hired for a job in Israel it’s important to try and get a signed personal job contract from your employer. Although by law employers are required to list your terms of employment within 30 days of hire this often doesn’t happen. Work contracts in Hebrew are complex, even for many Israelis to understand. If you’re in serious doubt about some terms and passages consider getting advice from a lawyer. In any case pay attention to the following:

• The employer's identity - the person who signs the contract should be the same person you are working for.
• Clear definition of what you job will involve.
• Working hours: overtime must be paid according to Israeli labour laws but it’s best of this is written in the contract.
• Transportation/cellular phone: what will you have to cover yourself, what will your employer offer?
• Salary - When is it paid? (law requires that you be paid by the 9th of the following month, but again it’s best to have this in writing.) If your salary is to be a combination of base pay and commission the figures should be clearly indicated.
• Annual leave, sick leave: your rights for these are defined by law but can often be negotiated.
• Social benefits: What percentage do you have to contribute? Under what conditions will you receive these social benefits?
• Duration of the contract: how much notice must you give if you want to resign? How much advance notice must they give you? The Law of Early Notification of Resignation and Dismissal (2001) defines such arrangements, but it’s worth trying to make an arrangement that benefits you.
• Unemployment compensation: should you be dismissed you are entitled to compensation.
• Secrecy: In certain fields you may be asked to sign a form promising that you will adhere to secrecy. Make sure this does not apply to any information you had attained previously, or information that has become accessible to the general public, information that you have received from a third party, or information that you have received as required by the authorities (for instance a court of law). In addition, the duration of time in which you will be required to adhere to this secrecy should be specified.

Try to make sure that general statements such as "as is typical in this line of work" or "as is commonly accepted" or "subject to the employer's judgment" are avoided since they are unclear and reduce the employer's obligations to a minimum.

Remember that Shabbat, the Jewish holy day, is on Saturday, so Sunday will feel like Monday to most of us.

Israeli public holidays in 2008:

21 Mar - Purim.
20-26 Apr - Pesach (Passover; only the first and last days are public holidays).
8 May - Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
9 Jun - Shavuot (Pentecost).
30 Sep-1 Oct - Rosh Hashana (New Year).
9 Oct - Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
14-20 Oct - Sukkot (Tabernacles; only the first and last days are public holidays).
21 Oct - Simchat Torah.
22-29 Dec - Chanukah (the Jewish Festival of Lights; businesses generally remain open).

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