Introduction:
An employer can deduct living costs from the worker's salary based on the area of the worker's residence and up to the limit set in the regulations
The employer of a foreign aid worker is obligated to provide appropriate housing for the worker
Employers are permitted to deduct living costs, and accompanying living expenses (electricity, water, municipal taxes) from a foreign worker's salary.
- The maximum amount that can be deducted from a worker's salary is determined based on area of residence (except for agriculture workers), in accordance with the Foreign Worker Regulations (Amount that can be deducted from the worker's salary for appropriate living conditions).
Who is Eligible?
- All employers of foreign workers in Israel.
Deduction of Living Expenses
Deduction for living expenses when the housing is not owned by the employer
- The maximum amount that the employer can deduct from the monthly salary of a foreign worker, as reimbursement for appropriate housing, when the housing is not owned by the employer is detailed in this chart:
Living Area | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2019 | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2018 | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2017 | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jerusalem | 418.01 | 411.56 | 405.05 | 399.66 |
Tel Aviv | 475.31 | 467.98 | 460.58 | 454.79 |
Haifa/Center | 316.90 | 312.01 | 307.08 | 303.22 |
South | 281.72 | 277.37 | 272.98 | 269.55 |
North | 259.21 | 255.21 | 251.17 | 248.02 |
Deduction for living expenses when the housing is owned by the employer
The residence is considered to be owned by the employer, as long as he has not presented a lease for the apartment in which his workers live and receipts for payment of rent for it.
- In a case of a foreign worker who lives in an apartment owned by the employer, it is possible to deduct from the worker's salary reimbursement of expenses for housing, up to half of the amount listed in the chart above.
- If the residence is owned by the employer, the amounts in this chart are the maximum that can be deducted from the worker's salary for housing expenses:
Living Area | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2019 | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2018 | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2017 | Monthly amount in NIS updated for 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jerusalem | 209 | 205.78 | 202.52 | 199.83 |
Tel Aviv | 237.65 | 433.99 | 230.29 | 227.39 |
Haifa/Center | 158.45 | 156 | 153.54 | 151.61 |
South | 140.86 | 136.68 | 136.49 | 134.77 |
North | 129.60 | 127.60 | 125.58 | 124.01 |
Deduction of Expenses that Accompany Living Expenses (Electricity, Water, Municipality taxes)
- In 2019, the employer is entitled to deduct a maximum of 93.37 NIS a month from the salary of a foreign worker who is not working in the nursing field or in the agriculture sector for reimbursement of expenses related to housing (electricity, water and municipal tax).
- In 2018 the maximum amount was 92.27 NIS per month.
- In 2017 the maximum amount was 91.99 NIS per month.
Deduction of Expenses that Accompany Living Expenses from the Salary of a Foreign Nursing Care Worker who Lives in His Employer's House
- In 2019, the employer is entitled to deduct a maximum of 80.23 NIS per month from the salary of a foreign nursing care worker, who lives in the employer's home for reimbursement of expenses relating to housing (electricity, water and municipal tax).
- In 2018 the maximum amount was 79.28 NIS per month.
- In 2017 the maximum amount was 79.04 NIS per month.
Deduction of Housing Expenses and Accompanying Housing Costs from the Salary of a Foreign Worker in the Agriculture Field
Deduction of housing expenses from a foreign worker in the agriculture field
- In 2019, the employer is entitled to deduct a maximum of 235.50 NIS from the salary of a foreign worker in the agriculture field for the reimbursement of housing expenses.
- In 2018 the maximum amount was 231.87 NIS per month.
Deduction of Accompanying housing costs from the salary of a foreign worker in the agriculture field
- In 2019, the employer is entitled to deduct a maximum of 304.60 NIS per month from the wages of a foreign worker in the agriculture field, for reimbursement of expenses related housing (electricity, water and municipal tax).
- In 2018 the maximum amount was 301 NIS per month.
- In the period from 01.08.2017 to 31.12.2017, the maximum amount was 300.10 NIS per month.
Submitting a Complaint Regarding Violation of Employee Rights
- Any foreign worker or other person that is interested in submitting a complaint regarding violation of employee rights, can submit a complaint to the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services, Foreign Workers Employment Rights Ombudsman.
- For more information see, Filing a Complaint to the Ombudsman for Foreign Worker Rights.
Please Note
- The employer is obligated to provide appropriate housing for the worker immediately once the worker starts working. For additional information see Appropriate Housing for Foreign Workers.
Aid Organizations
- Welfare Department - Jerusalem Municipality
- Worker's Hotline
- Hotline for Refugees and Migrants
- Physicians for Human Rights - Israel
Assistance in Employing Nursing Care Workers
- Internet hot line for those who employ foreign nursing care workers
- Elder care law services
- Yad Riva - Legal aid for senior citizens
- Reut and Eshel - Guidance services for senior citizens and their families who care for them.
- Kav Lamassik Information and Legal Advice for Foreign Workers.
- Ba-Bayit- Welfare and Aid for the Golden Age
- Matav
- For a complete lists of organizations offering assistance and support to senior citizens
- For a comprehensive categorized listing of healthcare organizations offering assistance and support to people with disabilities click here.
Government Agencies
- The Population and Immigration Authority
- The Foreign Workers' Employment Rights Ombudsman
- The National Insurance Institute
- The Interior Ministry
Laws and Regulations
- The Foreign Workers Law - 1991 - section 1(e)
- The Foreign Workers Regulations (Prohibition Against Illegal Employment and Guarantee of Fair Conditions (Appropriate Housing)) - 2000
Additional Publications
- The Rights of Foreign Workers on the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services website
- Foreign Workers - Information for Employers and Workers on the Population and Immigration Authority website
- Information Regarding the Employment of Foreign Workers and Illegal Infiltrators on the Population and Immigration Authority website
- Information on the Illegal Employment of Foreign Workers and Asylum Seekers - on the Population and Immigration Authority website.
- The Rights of Migrant Workers in the Agriculture Field, 2019 Worker's Hotline.
- The Rights of Migrant Workers in the Nursing Field, 2019 Worker's Hotline.
Credits
- English translation and maintenance by The Shira Pransky Project.