60% of women who contacted the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission complained that they faced discrimination at their workplace in connection with childbirth and raising children, for example when pregnant, undergoing fertility treatment, or as parents. 42% of Israeli employers said that they preferred not to hire Arab men, and 37% of employers said that they preferred not to hire haredi (ultra-orthodox) men, according to figures presented today at a conference on obstacles to equality by the Ministry of the Economy's Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. The figures reveal a bleak picture of widespread discrimination against women and minorities.
Ahead of the conference, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, headed by Tziona Koenig-Yair, carried out a series of surveys that reveal the public and employers' attitudes towards minorities in the workplace. An especially bleak picture emerges from the comprehensive survey, which found that 41% of employers prefer not to hire Arab mothers and 27% of employers said they preferred not hiring haredi mothers. 25% of the employers who participated in the survey admitted that women earn less than men in their workplaces.
It should be noted that, in recent years, government ministries have declared the employment of Arab and haredi women as a central goal.
The survey, carried out by Kelim Shluvim, covered 500 respondents.
The survey also found that 46% of the respondents, who included both employers and employees, said that they did not want to work alongside an Arab man, 30% said that they did not want to work alongside a haredi man, and 28% said they did not want to work alongside an educated Arab woman.
Woman over 50 are likely to be treated much better. The survey found that 93% of employers and 95% of employees prefer, or see no problem in, working with a woman over 50.
"The survey's data raises hard questions about the attitude of the public, especially employers, toward employees from different communities. Even though half of the participants in the survey are women, strong resistance was found to the employment of women with children, and worrying salary differences between men and women were reported. Although most of the respondents have higher education, their answers show prejudice and stereotypes when it comes to the employment of Arabs and haredim," said Koenig-Yair.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 31, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014