The Education Ministry on Monday published new procedures for engaging outsourcing companies, in a bid to ensure workers rights are not violated by their employers.

Under the new procedures, human resources companies would be required to sign a contract with each employee, observe timely salary payments, and specify a set rate for every position they offer. Outsourcing services would also be told to pay employees pension and health benefits, give them paid holiday days and compensations in case of dismissal.

"Our eye is watchful, we will not overlook violations," said Education Minister Yuli Tamir at a press conference she held Monday.

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According to Tamir, the ministry will terminate its engagement with companies that will violate their workers' rights. She said she hopes that all government offices and local authorities will follow her ministry's example.

The Education Ministry employs hundreds of contracted employees. It ran a survey in recent months to examine the employment conditions of some 150 workers employed by eight companies providing security, cleaning and maintenance services to schools.

The survey revealed that three of the companies violate their workers' rights. It also emerged that some 100 employees are suffering from ongoing violations of their rights. According to the findings, one of the human resources companies engaged by the ministry allegedly performed serious fraud in salary payment slips.

Based on the conclusions of the survey the ministry amended the terms of engagement for contractors.