Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pay slip has been revealed. Although he works nearly round the clock, his net monthly salary is NIS 15,027.43. Netanyahu's pay slip for December 2010 shows a gross salary of NIS 43,952.92, but after deducting 45% income tax and other deductions, his take-home pay is barely one-third his gross salary.
Although the salary is quite small for a round-the-clock job, it should be remembered that most of Netanyahu's expenses are covered by the state. His pay slip states that he was paid for a 42.5-hour work week, which is defined as a full-time position.
By law, the prime minister's gross monthly salary is NIS 41,987.29, after the cost-of-living increment, but his December salary includes NIS 1,965 in refunds for expenses.
The Prime Minister's Bureau today decided to disclose Netanyahu's pay slip on his Facebook page.
Israel Security Agency guidelines require the prime minister to travel by armored vehicle, which costs quite a bit of money. Netanyahu travels in a specially adapted Audi A8 estimated to have cost almost $1 million. The deduction for car use in Netanyahu's salary is NIS 11,590.
From Netanyahu's salary is also deducted NIS 95 a month for a mobile phone, and NIS 90 a month for a landline phone at home. The monthly deduction for his four daily newspapers is NIS 168.
Netanyahu pays NIS 17,986 a month in income tax, NIS 3,689 in National Insurance, and NIS 2,770 in health tax. His mandatory deductions total NIS 24,445.82 a month.
The state, Netanyahu's employer, sets aside 7.5% of Netanyahu's salary for his advanced training fund, amounting to NIS 3,149 a month, while his contribution is 2.5% of his salary, amounting to NIS 1,049.68. His provision for his manager's insurance is NIS 2,099 a month, while his employer's provision is NIS 5,596.90.
It is not clear from Netanyahu's pay slip how many vacation days he is entitled to a year. By law (Regulation 42A), a pay slip must include information such as the start of employment and how many vacation days the person is allowed. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Finance can fine an employer who violates the law.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 10, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011