The Ministry of Finance and the Histadrut have signed an agreement that will allow the social workers to return to work • According to the agreement, NIS 200 million will be transferred to the wage reform in July 2021

• The parties at the end of the meeting in Minister Katz's office

  Photo: 

  Ministry of Finance

The Ministry of Finance and the Histadrut today signed an agreement on the issue of the wages of the social workers and will allow them to return to work after two days of strike and months of protests and demonstrations. 

Photo: Association of Facts and Social Workers

Minister of Finance, Israel Katz: I welcome the end of the social workers' strike. As I promised, we will not leave anyone by the wayside. I am full of appreciation for the dedication of social workers and their contribution to Israeli society during this difficult period.



"I thank the Prime Minister, "The outline agreed for the approval of the government and the Minister of Welfare and the chairman of the Histadrut and the chairman of the organization, Inbal Hermoni, who took part in formulating the solution. 

Significant progress was made yesterday (Tuesday) in negotiations between the social facts and the Ministry of Finance, although after it was already agreed to transfer NIS 200 million to the wage reform in the first phase starting in July 2021, the strike remains in effect.

At the end of the meeting, with the participation of Finance Minister Israel Katz, Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David, Labor and Welfare Minister Itzik Shmuli, Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen, Chairman of the Histadrut Social Workers Union Inbal Hermoni and the professional staffs in the Ministry of Finance, principles were formulated for signing Agreement between the parties. 

Among the principles formulated, it was agreed, as stated, on NIS 200 million for wage reform in the first phase starting in July 2021 and a second phase, in the amount of NIS 100 to 200 million, as soon as the wage agreements in the economy are opened. It now appears that the gap is whether the reform will include only the public sector, or also the private sector which includes mainly associations.

The Ministry of Finance is willing to finance NIS 70 million for the coming year, after which the budget will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Welfare, but there they are willing to bear part of the amount, and at the same time, there seem to be gaps regarding the amount of the corona.

More on this topic:

• From today: Social workers are on strike

• Socialist protest: Extensive demonstrations throughout the country

• The Ministry of Finance refuses to negotiate with the social workers - the end of the strike is moving away

• Social facts mind: suffocating us "

Over the next few hours, the final details will be summed up between the parties, who are expected to end the two-week social facts strike. As part of the principles formulated, it was agreed between the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister that next Sunday a draft resolution will be submitted to the government to give budgetary backing to the agreement.

Earlier today, Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David met with Inbal Hermoni, chairman of the Union of Social Workers and Social Workers' staff, ahead of tonight's meeting with Finance Minister Israel Katz. Bar-David clarified at the meeting that the Histadrut will continue to support In the struggle of the social workers, and instructed Hermoni to continue the strike with his full backing.

In addition, the chairman of the Histadrut informed Hermoni and the representatives of the struggle that in the coming days the Histadrut will give precedents to the strikers money from its strike fund. Every worker who strikes in Israel will receive a check for NIS 1,000.