National Labor Union Unveils Plan to Stabilize Childcare Sector and Secure Career Prospects

A major conference was held in Israel to present a new framework aimed at stabilizing the childcare sector and improving employment prospects for daycare workers. The event, attended by hundreds of daycare managers, government officials, and members of the Knesset, was initiated by the Halamish organization and focused on securing the future of early childhood care.

Yoav Simhi, chairman of the National Labor Union, introduced the collective agreement designed to provide daycare workers with professional support, fair wages, and clear career advancement opportunities. He emphasized that the agreement, endorsed by Rabbi Amram Fried, marks an end to years of neglect in the sector. Simhi stated, "From now on, daycare workers in Israel are no longer invisible; they have professional backing, proper pay, and a real career horizon that will ensure system stability."

The agreement also includes benefits tailored to the Haredi community, such as access to a special consumer club. Simhi strongly opposed the legal advisor's plan to cut subsidies for daycare centers serving Haredi mothers, calling it a violation of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Speakers at the conference included former Labor Minister and current Knesset member Rabbi Yoav Ben-Tzur, Rabbi Yosef Tayeb, Rabbi Yinon Azulai (chairman of the Shas faction and a key figure in early childhood legislation), as well as senior officials from the Ministries of Labor and Education. Halamish chairman, attorney Shalom Nagar, concluded the event by highlighting the significant achievements made through collaboration and vowed to continue advancing the sector's interests.

The conference underscored a unified effort to enhance the status and working conditions of childcare providers across Israel, promising a more stable and respected profession moving forward.