Israeli Labor Court Approves $2.1 Million Class Action Against Domino's Over Sabbath Pay Violations

The Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court has authorized a class action lawsuit totaling approximately 7.5 million shekels (about $2.1 million) against Elgad Pizza, the operator of Domino's Pizza in Israel. The suit alleges systematic violations of wage laws related to employees working on the Sabbath and Saturday nights, including arbitrary shortening of Sabbath hours to avoid paying legally mandated wage premiums. The legal process began in January 2024 when a former delivery worker filed the suit through attorney Assaf Cohen.

According to the complaint, the company set Sabbath start and end times earlier than customary religious standards, thereby reducing the 150% wage premium required by Israel's Hours of Work and Rest Law. Employees working afternoon and evening Sabbath shifts reportedly received regular pay instead of the higher rate. The plaintiffs claim this practice is widespread across many branches nationwide and not an isolated incident.

Additional allegations include the use of global payments that do not reflect actual hours worked and incomplete payment of legally required holiday pay. The cumulative financial harm to workers is estimated in the millions of shekels, underpinning the lawsuit's total claim.

Elgad Pizza, owned by Danny Gold and Yossi Elbaz, operates dozens of branches across Israel and employs thousands, many young workers in delivery and weekend shifts. The chain, active since the 1990s, is one of Israel's leading pizza franchises with kosher-certified locations.

In response to the initial filing, the company stated it was reviewing the claim and would respond in court. No updated official comment has been released following the court's approval of the class action. This case adds to a series of recent labor lawsuits scrutinizing employer practices regarding Sabbath pay in Israel, where the Sabbath is the official day of rest and wage premiums for work on that day are strictly regulated.

The class action status allows a broad group of current and former employees to join the lawsuit and seek compensation. If successful, the ruling could impact not only Elgad Pizza but also other fast-food chains operating on the Sabbath. The Tel Aviv court's decision marks an initial victory for workers and opens the door for a thorough examination of wage calculations within the major pizza chain.