Survey Finds 88% of Israeli Mothers Say Maternity Leave Is Insufficient

A February 2026 survey conducted by the Women’s Lobby, to be presented at a Knesset committee meeting on Monday, revealed significant challenges faced by Israeli women in the workforce, highlighting the "motherhood penalty" and wage disparities. The study, based on a representative sample of about 1,000 women, found that approximately 35% reported earning less than men in equivalent roles. Additionally, 44% experienced unfair treatment at least once in their careers, including during hiring, salary negotiations, or promotion opportunities, due to their gender.

The survey also showed that 88% of mothers consider the current maternity leave duration inadequate. On average, maternity and parental leave lasts about 23.6 weeks, although the law mandates paid leave for only 15 weeks. Furthermore, around 21% of mothers with children under 18 said their employers obstructed or denied their legal rights related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Ad interim Chair of the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women, MK Adi Azuz, emphasized the impact of motherhood on job choices, stating, "When more than four out of five mothers say motherhood influenced their job selection, it can no longer be seen as a personal choice. These findings require the government to stop ignoring the motherhood penalty and develop policies enabling women to balance career and family without economic cost."

Racheli Songo, Government Relations Director at the Women’s Lobby, called for comprehensive policy changes, saying, "Motherhood should not come at an economic price. The state must move from isolated responses to a holistic policy that reduces wage gaps, invests in early childhood, allows flexible work returns, and creates permanent solutions for working parents in both routine and emergency situations." The government is also advancing paternity leave policies for men, and the Knesset recently approved a framework for unpaid leave related to the war.