Manufacturers Association of Israel president Shraga Brosh has responded unenthusiastically to Likud MK David Amsalem and Kulanu MK Eli Cohen's joint proposed Knesset bill granting Israeli employees one Sunday off each month. Under the plan, Israeli employees who already have Friday and Saturdays as their weekend, would have a three-day weekend once a month.
In response Brosh told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that such a bill if enacted would cost the Israeli economy at least NIS 1.5 billion annually and should only be introduced as part of a comprehensive package to raise productivity in the economy.
Amsalem proposes introducing the law for a trial period of three years. The hours not worked on the one Sunday each month would spread over the rest of the month. The average working week in Israel is 43 hours, three hours more than the EU average. Yet productivity is 30% lower than in the EU.
Under Amsalem and Cohen's bill, during the three-year trial period, the possibility of extending the plan so that every week would be a four-day week, would be investigated.
Histadrut leader Avi Nissenkorn supports the proposal providing it does not compromise workers' rights, pay and other conditions of employment.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 15, 2016
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