Rights of Foreign Workers

Foreign workers employed in Israel are entitled to employment, social and personal rights as well as protection from exploitation

Foreign workers are entitled to the same terms of employment as Israeli employees and due to their special status in Israel, they are also entitled to unique rights that regulate their stay in Israel. In this portal you can read about the basic rights of foreign workers, including the terms of their employment and the obligation to arrange medical insurance for them. It is recommended to also familiarize yourself with the portals that address this topic from the employer's perspective: Employing Foreign Workers and Employing a Foreign Nursing Care Worker. Additionally, pay attention to the list of aid organizations at the bottom of this page.

General Information

• Appropriate Housing for Foreign Workers
• Prohibition of Holding the Passport of a Foreign Worker
• Reimbursement from Foreign Worker Recruitment Offices
• Staying in Israel after the Foreign Worker's Work Permit Expires
• Foreign Workers may not be Charged Brokerage Fees
• Filing a Complaint to the Ombudsman for Foreign Worker Rights
• Security Deposits for Foreign Workers who are Asylum Seekers
• Withdrawal of Deposited Funds by an Asylum Seeker who is a Foreign Worker
• Employers of Foreign Workers in the Construction Industry, Unique Technology Fields and Nursing Companies, must make Monthly Deposits for their Workers
• Employers of Foreign Workers in the Hotel Industry must make Monthly Deposits for their Employees
• Withdrawal of Deposited Funds by Foreign Workers in the Construction Industry, Unique Technology Fields and Nursing Companies

Employment Conditions

• Employment Conditions for Foreign Workers
• Employment Contract for Foreign Workers
• Permitted Deductions from a Foreign Worker's Salary
• Deduction of Living Expenses for Foreign Workers
• Recruitment and Guidance of Foreign Nursing Care Workers by Authorized Agencies
• A Foreign Nursing Care Worker must give Advanced Notice before Resigning

Specific Rights for Certain Fields

• Rights of a Foreign Nursing Care Worker that was Fired or whose Employee was Hospitalized or Passed Away
• Rights of a Foreign Nursing Care Worker that has Resigned from his Job
• Limitations on Changing the Workplace of a Foreign Nursing Care Worker
• Transfer of a Foreign Worker in Agriculture to a Different Employer
• Guide to Employing Foreign Workers in the Agriculture Sector on the Government Services and Information website
• Guide to Employing Palestinians in the Construction, Agriculture, Hotel, Industry and Service Sectors on the Government Services and Information website

General Employment Rights

A Foreign Worker is Legally Entitled to the Same Rights as an Israeli Employee

• Wage Components for Foreign Workers
• Pension Insurance for Foreign Workers
• Weekly Rest Days and Vacation for Foreign Workers
• Holiday Pay:
  • Christian Holidays
  • Muslim Holidays
• For more information see the Employment and Employee Rights portal
• Security Deposits for Foreign Workers who are Asylum Seekers
• Withdrawal of Deposited Funds by an Asylum Seeker who is a Foreign Worker

Foreign Workers during Pregnancy and After Birth

• Rights of Foreign Workers During Pregnancy and After Birth
• Absence from Work for a Foreign Worker During Pregnancy
• Coverage of Birth Hospitalization Costs
• Maternity Grant for a Foreign Worker
• Birth Grant for Someone who gives birth to 3 or more Children at One Time
• Child Allowance for Foreign Workers
• Maternity Leave for a Foreign Worker
• Unpaid Leave Following Maternity Leave for Foreign Workers
• Living and Working in Israel as Foreign Worker After Giving Birth

בריאות

• Health Insurance for Foreign Workers
• Health Insurance Policy Conditions for Foreign Workers
• National Insurance for Foreign Workers
• Free Clinics for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Children of Foreign Workers

• Compulsory Education for Children of Foreign Workers
• Health Insurance for Non-Resident Children in Israel
• Leniency on Matriculation Examinations for Students who are Temporary Residents, Tourists or Children of Foreign Nationals

Aid Organizations

• Worker's Hotline
• Hotline for Refugees and Migrants
• Mesila - Center for Information and Assistance for Migrant Workers and Asylum Seekers living in Tel Aviv
• Schar Mitzva - Voluntary Legal Aid for the Poor
• Physicians for Human Rights - Israel
• The Association for Civil Rights in Israel

Government Agencies

• The Population and Immigration Authority
• The Foreign Workers' Employment Rights Ombudsman
• The National Insurance Institute
• The Interior Ministry

Court Rulings

• Click here for a list of court rulings related to foreign workers

Laws and Regulations

• The Foreign Workers Law
• Regulations of Employment Services (Payments from Work Applicants for Employment Brokerage) - 2006
• Foreign Workers Order (Prohibition of Illegal Employment and Insurance of Fair Conditions) (Basket of Health Services for Employees)
• Regulations of the Employment Service (Submission of Information to a Foreign Worker in connection with Employment Brokerage), 2006
• The Minimum Wage Law

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
• Rights of Migrant Workers in the Agriculture Sector, 2019 The Worker's Hotline
• Rights of Migrant Workers in the Nursing Field, 2019 The Worker's Hotline