Parties' Plans for Haredi Employment Analyzed for Feasibility
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Political parties in Israel have presented varying plans to increase employment among Haredim and Arab women, groups with significantly lower workforce participation. Experts analyzed these proposals, noting that while some identify key barriers, many lack specific budgets and actionable steps. Key recommendations include linking benefits to earning potential, integrating core curriculum studies in Haredi education, and providing practical support like childcare for Arab women. Parties like the Likud and Shas faced criticism for policies that experts say may disincentivize work.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Haredi non-employment costs the average Israeli worker about NIS 3,500 annually in a "silent tax."
- IDI estimates NIS 9.5 billion in potential tax revenue from increased Haredi workforce participation.
- Yisrael Beiteinu proposes linking benefits to service/employment and expanding vocational training.
- The Democrats suggest cutting funding for private religious schools and enforcing conscription.
- Yahad aims to assist over 100,000 job seekers by conditioning benefits on earning potential.
- Experts critique plans for lacking budgets, targets, and addressing root causes of low employment.
The absence of Haredim from the workforce imposes a "silent tax" of approximately NIS 3,500 annually on the average Israeli worker, according to the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI). The IDI estimates that if Haredim participated in the workforce at rates similar to non-Haredi Jews, the state would gain about NIS 9.5 billion in direct tax revenue in 2025 alone. The article examines the proposals of various political parties aimed at increasing employment among Haredim and Arab women, who also have lower-than-average employment rates.
Several parties presented plans. Yisrael Beiteinu proposed linking state benefits and tax exemptions to military or national service and employment, alongside expanding vocational training. The Democrats suggested eliminating funding for sectarian and private educational networks, expanding state-funded Haredi education, and enforcing conscription, while also focusing on subsidized daycare and transportation for Arab women. Yahad proposed conditioning benefits on earning potential and canceling stipends for yeshiva students, while expanding training programs in cooperation with employers, aiming to assist over 100,000 job seekers. The Joint List advocated for implementing core curriculum studies in all Haredi education and increasing employment of Arab women in the public sector, while the Religious Zionism Party proposed continuing vocational and academic programs suitable for the Haredi lifestyle.
Experts from the IDI, the Berl Katznelson Foundation, the Arlozorov Forum, and the Kohelet Policy Forum analyzed these plans. They noted that while some proposals correctly identify barriers, many lack concrete budgets, numerical targets, or address the root causes of low employment. The Likud and Shas parties did not respond to the questionnaire, and their past actions were analyzed. Experts criticized the Likud's policies for potentially incentivizing non-employment and Shas's for perpetuating low employment rates by maintaining yeshiva funding and exemptions.
Experts generally agreed that linking benefits to earning potential and integrating core curriculum studies are crucial. However, they pointed out that focusing solely on military service without these components may not effectively incentivize work. The analysis also highlighted the need for practical solutions like affordable childcare and transportation for Arab women, and structural changes in Haredi education for long-term impact. The article notes that Yisrael Beiteinu, Yahad, the Democrats, and the Joint List presented plans, while the Likud, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit did not provide responses.
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