Israel's Youth Labor Laws: Minimum Wage, Working Hours, and Pay Slip Rights Explained
Israeli law outlines specific regulations for the employment of minors, covering minimum wage, working hours, and permissible deductions from pay slips. The minimum wage for young workers is tiered based on age, with those under 16 earning 70% of the adult minimum wage, which stands at NIS 6,443.85 monthly as of April 1, 2026. This translates to an hourly rate of NIS 26.07 for those under 16, increasing with age up to 100% of the adult rate for those 18 and older. Employers can pay more but not less than these rates. Training, team meetings, and orientation before work are considered paid working hours.
Legal working hours for minors are capped at 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day. In five-day workweeks, 16- to 18-year-olds can work up to nine hours daily, provided the weekly total remains 40. Hours before a rest day or holiday are limited to seven. Overtime is prohibited for youth workers, though they are entitled to increased pay if they work beyond permitted hours. A 45-minute break, with at least 30 consecutive minutes, is mandatory for shifts longer than six hours. Night work is restricted, with those under 18 unable to work between 8 PM and 8 AM. Those aged 16-18 who have completed compulsory education can work until 10 PM, and employers must provide transportation home if a shift ends after 11 PM.
Pay slips are mandatory and must detail hours worked, hourly rate, gross pay, and all deductions. Crucially, minors under 18 are exempt from National Insurance and health insurance contributions, which the employer must cover. Any such deductions on a pay slip are considered an error and should be rectified. Fines for breaking a glass, cash register shortages, or lateness are illegal deductions. Workers are entitled to travel expense reimbursement for each day requiring transportation, up to NIS 22.6 daily. Pension contributions only begin at age 20 for females and 21 for males.
Minors are entitled to 18 vacation days per year if working five days a week, prorated for part-time employment. The Ministry of Labor's Administration for Regulation and Enforcement oversees compliance, and complaints can be filed without leaving the job. Employers face significant fines for failing to provide transportation after 11 PM. Filling out Form 101 is essential for claiming tax credits; individuals under 18 receive an additional credit, and females receive a further half-credit. These credits significantly raise the income threshold before tax liability begins.
