Histadrut sues over employees' right to sit on the job

The Histadrut labor federation on Tuesday filed a NIS 20 million law suit against 61 large businesses for allegedly forcing their employees to work on their feet, instead of allowing them to sit down as required by law.

The suit, which was filed to the Tel Aviv regional labor court, lists clothing stores, hotels and cafes as well as office appliance shops and toy stores.

"This ill has spread to all areas of commerce," the federation's lawyers wrote in the claim.

"These tactics are offensive to workers, and they rely on taking advantage of their weakness," Shjai Teken, Iris Vardi and Miri Malki wrote. "This results in compromising the health and dignity of workers in those stores."

Speaking at a Histadrut press conference, Shir-Li Schweitzer told reporters of how she lost her job at the Cnaan Spa Hotel in Safed. Schweitzer said she was fired because she insisted on her right to sit down.

The recently passed law, of which the labor group is accusing the stores of breaking, states that employers are not allowed to make their employees stand up if they can perform the job sitting down.

Schweitzer said management made her stand up for eight to nine hours a day on high-heeled shoes. She added that she and other employees working on the lobby floor were told not to sit down even when the lobby was empty. The hotel denied that this was the reason for her dismissal.