Workers constructing Jerusalem-Tel Aviv train
Workers constructing Jerusalem-Tel Aviv trainFlash 90

Treasury and Histadrut labor union officials on Sunday agreed on a framework to raise the minimum wage in Israel to NIS 5,000 per month for full-time workers. The increase will be built into future Histadrut labor contracts, and later advanced for legislation in the Knesset. Officials will discuss a schedule to implement the increases with the Attorney General.

According to the plan, the minimum salary for full-time work will increase to NIS 4,650 on April 1, 2016, and to NIS 4,825 on August 1 of that year. Salaries will again increase to NIS 5,000 on January 1, 2017.

NIS 5,000 will be the future base salary for determining cost of living increases as well. The Attorney General will decide on a fair formula for increasing salaries when inflation raises the average salary for Israeli workers. Currently, the minimum wage is pegged at 47.5% of the average salary, but that percentage could increase, officials said. The Histradrut has been seeking to increase the percentage to 52%.

Speaking Sunday, Histadrut chairman Avi Niskornen said that the increase “was important news for 700,000 families in Israel. We have come to an agreement that will raise the minimum wage for many Israelis. The Histradrut will continue fighting to reduce the gaps between Israelis.”