Doctors and executives at Clalit Health Services, Maccabi Healthcare Services, and Kupat Holim Meuhedet held the ten top highest salaries in state supported agencies and government companies in 2002, reveals Ministry of Finance director of wages Yuval Rachlevsky's report, published today.
For the second consecutive year, the highest paid public sector employee was Dr. Azai Applebaum, director of cardiac surgery at Clalit Health Services' Soroka Medical Center, with a salary cost of NIS 141,545 a month. Four executives of health funds receive salaries similar to those of senior doctors.
Bank of Israel executives are still the highest paid direct government employees. The average executive salary cost is NIS 69,766 a month. The next highest average salaries are at Kupat Holim Meuhedet, Clalit Health Services, Oil Refineries, and Israel Electric Corporation.
Rachlevsky said salaries at the Bank of Israel exceeded every accepted civil service framework, with some employees earning two or even three times the norm. He announced that he would continue hearings against Bank of Israel employees and executives for alleged excessive salaries.
Rachlevsky rejected Governor of the Bank of Israel David Klein's claims that Rachevsky had no authority on this matter, and that his intervention damaged the bank's independence. "It's a shame that the Bank of Israel's management rejected proposals to remedy the situation. If we launch High Court of Justice proceedings and there are lawsuits, we'll find ourselves in legal proceedings, regrettably at the public's expense. We might be able to resolve some of the issues through negotiations," he added.
The Bank of Israel stated in response that employees' salaries were set in wage agreements in accordance with collective civil service agreements and the law, which the director of wages enforced. The Bank of Israel noted that there were no excessive salaries at the bank this year, either.
The Bank of Israel added that 90% of its executives held university degrees, and half had either MAs or Ph.D.s. In addition, 90% of executives had an average of 30 years seniority, which affected their salaries. Hinting at salaries at the Ministry of Finance, including Rachlevsky's, the Bank of Israel said the salaries of civil servants hired under personal contracts should also be published.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on January 26, 2004