Chambers of Commerce seek injunction against general strike

Uriel Lynn  photo: Tamar Matsafi
Uriel Lynn photo: Tamar Matsafi

Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce president Uriel Lynn: The Histadrut should agree to management flexibility.

The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce is set to petition the National Labor Court today for an injunction against the general strike planned by the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) from this Wednesday in protest against the employment of contract workers in the public sector.

The president of the federation, Uriel Lynn, told "Globes", "There is no reason to hold a general strike, which is liable to cause damage and suffering in the private sector, at a time when the Ministry of Finance supports transferring contract workers to direct employment." Lynn said that the Histadrut should accede to the Ministry of Finance's demands for management flexibility and mobility of employees if contract workers are to receive permanent employment in the public sector.

Lynn presented figures today, based on Central Bureau of Statistics data, showing that in the past decade there has been 9% growth in employment in industry, 59% growth in trade and services, and 62% growth in the public sector. "At the end of 2014, the public sector in Israel employed about 1, 178,000 people, some of them in situations of hidden unemployment, and they are paid out of the public purse. Therefore, when a worker is transferred to direct employment, it would be as well that the employer should have the flexibility to manage in accordance with his needs."

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce supports switching contract workers to direct employment. "The existing law in any case provides a solution for this situation," says Lynn, "After nine months of employing someone via a manpower company, the employer must take him or her onto the payroll. A distinction should be maintained between workers employed via manpower companies and workers who provide a service to another organization through outsourcing, in which case they are employees of the company providing services to its customers."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 20, 2015

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015

Uriel Lynn  photo: Tamar Matsafi
Uriel Lynn photo: Tamar Matsafi
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