Draft June 20, 2026
The need to amend regulations and laws governing employment and labor laws on the Sabbath
1. Hours of Work and Rest Law, 1951 • For Jewish employees, the weekly day of rest is Saturday; • For Muslims – Friday; • For Christians – Sunday; • An employer is not permitted to employ workers on their weekly day of rest without a special permit; • A permit is granted in cases of public necessity, essential services, security, medicine, or continuous work processes; • Commercial profit in and of itself does not constitute sufficient grounds for obtaining a permit. 2. Law for Enhancement of Enforcement of Labor Laws, 2011 • Grants the Ministry of Labor inspection and control powers; • Enables the imposition of fines and administrative sanctions; • Establishes enforcement mechanisms for the preservation of labor laws.
✍️ Submitted by: igal gutnik
🤝 3 supporters
📖 Background
The existing system may create unequal social and economic consequences. In practice, some commercial businesses tend to employ workers for whom Saturday is not defined as the official weekly day of rest, in order to enable business activity on Saturdays. This situation may spark a debate regarding equal employment opportunities and the need for more uniform regulation.
📝 Proposal text
Proposed changes:
• Re-examining the "public need" criterion as a mandatory condition;
• Examining the possibility of recognizing commercial activity as an independent grounds for granting a Saturday work permit;
• Granting authority to local authorities and municipalities to determine which types of businesses and commercial activities will be permitted to operate on Saturdays;
• Preserving workers' rights, including increased pay, an alternative day of rest, and the right to refuse to work on the day of rest.
The purpose of the changes is to create a more flexible and uniform regulatory system that takes into account the needs of workers, businesses, and residents of various cities in Israel.
✅ For (4)
- + Expanding the freedom of choice for citizens and business owners
- + Development of commerce and local economy
- + Bridging regulatory gaps between different sectors
- + Option to take into account the unique needs of different cities
⚠️ Against (4)
- − Concern over damage to the status of Shabbat as a national day of rest
- − Risk of pressure from employers on employees to work on Saturdays
- − Potential impact on work-life balance
- − Deepening social tensions