With summer vacation about to begin, Israeli teens are expected to enter the workforce for the first time in large numbers, often in restaurants, catering, stores and hotels. To help prevent exploitation, N12 published a Q&A guide with labor lawyer Keren Kanפו on the rights minors receive from employers.
Under Israel’s Youth Employment Law, work during school holidays is allowed from age 14, only in light jobs that do not harm health or development. Minimum wage for teens is set as a percentage of the general minimum wage: 70% up to age 16, about 26 shekels an hour; 75% from 16 to 17, about 28 shekels; and 83% from 17 to 18, about 31 shekels. Paying less is illegal. Before work begins, employers must obtain a medical certificate, and for workers under 15 in public performances, advertising or TV shoots, written parental consent is also required. Kanפו warned that if an employer does not ask for the medical approval, “that is already the first red flag.”
Teenagers may work no more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. From age 16, up to 9 hours a day is allowed, but overtime is strictly banned even with extra pay. In summer only, 16-year-olds and older may work until midnight if the employer drives them home. During the rest of the year, work after 8 p.m. is forbidden. Holiday work carries a 150% wage premium. On-call time at home is not automatically paid, but if the teen’s freedom is significantly restricted, it may count as work.
If a minor is injured on the job, the employer must pay National Insurance contributions, and the worker is entitled to injury benefits and disability compensation. If the employer failed to pay contributions, National Insurance will cover the claim and recover the money from the employer. The guide advises teens to keep independent records of hours, pay slips and written terms. Complaints can be sent to the Labor Ministry at report.achifa@labor.gov.il, filed with the labor court, or taken to the Workers’ Advice and Support service, which offers free legal help. The Labor Ministry said it issued 25 fines last year for Youth Employment Law violations, totaling about 850,000 shekels, plus 167 administrative warnings, and it runs annual summer enforcement operations, especially in restaurants and event halls.
