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Are Israel's rights for working mothers counterproductive? By Haim Bior Tags: Employment of Women Law  Women's salaries are still about 20% less than those of men working in the very same positions. During job interviews, young women are still likely to be asked the embarrassing question: "Are you planning to get pregnant?" Yet there were amendments to the Employment of Women Law in the past year and a half that work in women's favor, which all working women should know about. Below are a few of these amendments, presented with the assistance of attorney Orly Aviram of Nahum Feinberg & Co., which represents Israel's largest companies in labor-related matters. A man who has worked for at least a year in the same workplace before the birth of a child also has the right to unpaid leave, if he is the baby's sole caregiver because his wife is ill or disabled. A father's unpaid paternity leave can be instead of his wife's unpaid leave. Under certain circumstances, a couple can split their months of unpaid leave. Advertisement A woman who misses work to breast-feed her baby, or due to a miscarriage, cannot be fired for 60 days after her return to work. Are all these amendments really good for women and their husbands? It depends who you ask. Attorney Nahum Feinberg, a labor law expert, has his doubts about the reams of legislation intended to improve women's status in the workplace. "We have proved to ourselves that we are an enlightened society," says Feinberg, "but these amendments are excessive, at the employer's expense." Feinberg feels that every amendment that benefits working women deters employers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, from hiring women. "Business owners say to themselves, 'why should I get into trouble with the Employment of Women Law - which every day becomes more strict with me - or with an Employment Ministry representative, who might not allow me to fire a pregnant worker who is not functioning? It would be better for me to employ men.'" Avi Ben-David, CEO of high-tech firm Aviv Advanced Solutions, actually prefers to employ women. "Women, at least in high-tech," says Ben-David, "are keenly aware of their rights. They tend to be more loyal to an organization than men. I will never forget [this loyalty] at the height of the high-tech bubble, 10 years ago, when not a single woman left us. If there are amendments to the law - this is natural and proper." Related articles: Arab women - the most exploited group in Israeli workforce Women's groups: Lecturer-student sex should be illegal Why are hospitals opposed to women giving birth at home? Bookmark to del.icio.us   An astounding 'no' Palestinians reject PM's offer to return 93% of West Bank, calling it a 'waste of time.' No friend of ours Iranian VP gets summoned by parliament for saying Iran is a friend of Israel's.

Read & React Olmert gives Abbas plan for Israeli pullout from 93% of W. Bank Responses: 303 Aluf Benn: Hamas could still turn Gaza into the Taiwan of the Mideast Responses: 40 Editorial: IDF is prepared to turn blind eye to illegal shooting of bound Palestinian Responses: 54 Iranian VP summoned by parliament after saying Iran is a friend of Israel, U.S. Responses: 20 Moshe Arens: Iran has blinded Israeli leaders to Hamas, Hezbollah threat Responses: 21 More Headlines 00:21 Barak: Dedicate each day of Gaza calm to freeing Shalit 01:21 Georgia agrees to modified France's modified peace proposal 00:37 Israeli journalist seriously hurt while covering Georgia clashes 22:10 'We've reached a safe haven,' say Israelis returning from Georgia 01:31 Dichter joins Kadima race, fires opening salvos at Mofaz, Livni 20:54 Iranian VP summoned by parliament after saying Iran a friend of Israel, U.S. 21:41 'Zohan' actor Rob Schneider learns to haggle at Jaffa flea market 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 16:32 PA rejects Olmert's offer to withdraw from 93% of West Bank 20:59 Beijing Olympics / Tennis hopes dashed as Israeli swimmers break records 23:12 Syria's top cleric: Middle East peace starts in Syria 17:01 Bar-On's 2009 budget proposal: More money for defense, welfare, education 15:01 Israel grants war vet status to woman raped by British troops in Mandate Palestine 22:03 Government to move illegal outpost Migron to existing settlement Previous Editions Select Day 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul 30 jul

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