Despite a widespread belief, the law does not forbid the employment of employees on election day. The law defines election day as a "statutory holiday" without providing any additional interpretation.
Over the years, labor regulations have sought to fill this legal vacuum. A number of rulings state that if an employee voluntarily agrees to work on election day, he or she is entitled to do so.
As for salaries, the law does not set a figure. However, over the years, most rulings have set the payment of 200% overtime for work on election day. Other rulings order a regular day's payment and the addition of a paid vacation day.
Employees in what the law defines as "critical services" are not entitled to overtime pay. These services include transport, communications, electricity, water, fuel, burial services, and food haulage. Companies that are members of the Manufacturers Association of Israel and have factories with 24-hour production lines must pay the manufacturing employees 200% overtime on election day, in accordance with a special circular issued by the Manufacturers Association.
Adv. Hila Porat, an expert in labor law, says that the elections committee also permits work at restaurants, cafes, hotels, cinemas, and theaters. Employees at these locations are not entitled to special pay rates.
The elections will reportedly cost Israeli industry NIS 225 million. A Manufacturers Association survey found that 53% of manufacturers will be closed on election day, 43% will be partly operational, and 4% will be fully operational.
Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce president Uriel Lynn estimates that trade and services proceeds on election day will be triple the daily average, reaching NIS 1.2 billion.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 10, 2009
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