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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 10:06 01/01/2008 New law set to make long-time temps permanent staff By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Temporary Workers, Employment  After an eight-year delay and affecting as many as 100,000 workers, legislation requiring employers put workers provided by temporary employment agencies on the company payroll after nine months service is expected to go into effect today, barring any last-minute changes. "This is one of the most important social reforms in Israel and it will alter the labor market across the board, transforming a whole community of workers who felt like they were inferior to a part of the working Israeli society," said MK Amir Peretz (Labor), who initiated the legislation. However, some employers are expected to refuse to hire temporary workers, possibly leading to lay offs. Another option is that employers will turn to service providers, who are not included in the legislation. Advertisement Service providers - for example security firms - are not considered to be human resources firms. This enables them to bypass the legislation requiring them to pay temporary workers the same salaries as permanent employees, and also not offer the same benefit packages. Similarly, they are not required to hire temporary employees after nine months of employment. The Finance Ministry tried to delay the implementation of the legislation until 2011, as it had done since it was passed in 2000 through the Economic Arrangements Law. However, the head of the Histadrut labor federation, Ofer Eini, prevented the delay, and the law will go into effect Tuesday unless a different agreement is reached between the Histadrut, the employers and the government. Eini initiated a series of proposals that are meant to improve the lot of workers employed by service providers, demanding that such firms undertake similar registration as that required of temporary employment agencies. According to Eini's proposals, every service provider, be it a security firm, a cleaning service or a care giver for the elderly, must acquire a license, and its renewal will be conditional on its financial stability and adherence to employment rules. This, it is hoped, will drive contractors who systematically violate workers rights out of business. In exchange, Eini was willing to delay the implementation of the legislation by 18 months, a proposal that was severly criticized by organizations like Kav LaOved, a workers rights organization. An agreement was reached between Eini and Manufacturers Association head Shraga Brosh, but the Treasury foiled the agreement saying that the existing legislation was preferable to the changes proposed by the Histadrut boss. Related articles: Bosses now entitled to pay disabled less than minimum wage Bank of Israel attacks Treasury's unemployment benefit policies Immigrants snub local employers, preferring well-paid jobs abroad Bookmark to del.icio.us Muslims study Holocaust For Dutch educators, Islamophobia can be a teaching aid for Holocaust studies. White House race Edwards is the angry candidate; Obama prefers conciliation.   1.   Peretz`s legacy 07:07  |  Ethan 01/01/08   2.   workers 07:46  |  colin 01/01/08   3.   Long-term temps at universities are not workers? 11:26  |  Adolfo E. Talpalar 01/01/08   4.   Another one of Israel`s mistakes 11:32  |  Phiulip 01/01/08   5.   # 4 Phillip Not so 14:03  |  Petra 01/01/08   6.   Zionist dreams, the most temporary of temps 22:21  |  Chanalau, Tova 01/01/08

Today Online Burston: Here's to '67 borders, the new middle of the road Responses: 225 Two Gazans killed as Hamas-Fatah clashes enter second day Responses: 202 Shin Bet: 2007 saw dramatic drop terrorism fatalities Responses: 46 Rosner's Guest: Evangelicals love Jews, Jewish Israel Responses: 57 Haaretz TV: Shin Bet denying vital treatment for critically ill Gazans Responses: 75 Rosner's Domain Factor panel: Better for Israel if Clinton wins Iowa Guest: is it important for American Jews to learn Hebrew? What Will the Palestinian Authority Do With All That Money? More Jewish lawmakers support Clinton (WTR) More Headlines 21:30 Terrorists who carried out deadly W. Bank shooting were Fatah men 20:51 Barak: W. Bank roadblocks are effective, will remain in place 22:00 Hamas militant killed, three wounded by IDF fire near Gaza security fence 23:09 Race for the White House/ Between anger and moderation 22:21 For Dutch educators, Islamophobia can be a teaching aid for Holocaust studies 23:23 TheMarker editor-in-chief wins Israel's Media Watch journalism award 23:00 Case closed against journalist accused of sex crimes, indecent acts 20:51 Palestinian pilgrims in Egypt threaten hunger strike over Gaza return 21:53 Bnei Brak infant sustains moderate burns; parents refuse treatment Previous Editions Select Day 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec

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