Israeli Parties Divided on Support for Freelancers and Worker Retraining

As Israel's labor market rapidly evolves, political parties are presenting diverse approaches to supporting both employed individuals seeking new skills and self-employed workers. A key debate centers on whether the state should fund retraining programs for existing employees or focus solely on the unemployed. Several parties advocate for expanding vocational training throughout a worker's career, while others prioritize those outside the workforce or lack a clear policy.

Another significant issue is the social safety net for the self-employed, with parties proposing various funding mechanisms, including dedicated funds and expanded social benefits. However, some parties have opposed proposals for unemployment benefits for freelancers.

Parties like Yesh, Yachad, Israel Beiteinu, and the Joint List support extending professional training to employed individuals. Yesh proposes short, accredited vocational courses and a gradual social safety net for the self-employed based on contributions. Yachad plans a national skills upgrade program, including AI integration and targeted subsidies for older workers. Israel Beiteinu suggests grants for companies retraining employees and a voluntary contribution system for freelancers, matched by the state. The Democrats also back extensive retraining for employed individuals and expanded social benefits for the self-employed, though without a fully defined model.

Conversely, the Likud party has not presented a specific retraining plan for at-risk workers, though its Economy Ministry has worked on upgrading existing jobs. Likud members voted against unemployment benefits for the self-employed in 2025. United Torah Judaism and Shas have not detailed positions on retraining subsidies or social benefits for freelancers, though Shas members also voted against unemployment benefits for the self-employed. Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionism party supported government initiatives for tech and high-return profession training, but these were for the unemployed, not existing workers. Otzma Yehudit's Minister Amichai Eliyahu voted against unemployment benefits for freelancers, but the party lacks a formal stance. The Joint List supports subsidized training in Hebrew and Arabic and mandatory pensions for the self-employed, but without detailing other social benefits.

Parties like Ra'am, Am Israel, and the Economic-Reservists list have not presented clear stances on subsidized retraining for all workers or detailed mechanisms for freelancer social benefits. The Economic-Reservists list does propose a financial safety net for freelancers similar to employees, but without specifying a contribution model.