The Worker and the Basics
A housekeeper (maid, cleaning lady, etc.) has the same rights as any other employee in Israel.
If you did not write any special agreement (a written contract) with your employee, you will be obligated by law only to the “basics” and nothing else. Be aware that the basics are the same for all professions and all jobs and what changes are the extras and specials, and not the basics.
Regular Salary (Minimum Wage)
If you decide to pay by month, day or hour, the salary must be at least the “minimum wage” stipulated by law for each one of the selected options.
The amounts listed below are the actual sums as of January 2008 and may change during January 2011 but have not as of this writing. You can visit the site of the Ministry of Industry Trade & Labor for updated minimum wage information:
| Monthly (Up to 43 hours weekly) | 3,850.18 NIS |
| By Hour | 20.70 NIS |
For employees under the age of 18, there is a different salary:
The monthly work is up to 40 hours a week only.
| Up to 16 years old | 70% of the minimum wage |
| Up to 17 years old | 75% of the minimum wage |
| Up to 18 years old | 83% of the minimum wage |
| Apprentice | 60% of the minimum wage |
Minimum wage for an employee with a reduced work capacity:
Subject to the approval of the Ministry
| 25% to 50% work capacity | 75% of the minimum wage |
| 50% but no more than 70% work capacity | 50% of the minimum wage |
| 70% work capacity and more | 33% of the minimum wage |
Non-Payment of Overtime
The question is whether a household employee is entitled to payment for overtime: National Labor Court rejected a claim of a maid who lived with her employers and demanded compensation for “overtime hours”. The reasoning of this decision was based on the fact that you cannot make a distinction between “leisure working hours” and “working hours” concerning a “live- in worker”.
But following another ruling that states that “live-in household workers” will receive fair compensation in advance, taking into account the fact that their work hours are often the hours prescribed by law. Fair compensation was decided (by the courts) as an additional 30% above the minimum wage.
