Histadrut to establish a freelance worker division

The Self-Employed Forum of the Histadrut announced today (Monday) that it would establish a division for freelancers. The Histadrut made the forward-thinking decision to prepare for changes in the labor market and the desire to apply protective laws and grant social rights to those defined by the forum as the vulnerable class in Israel.

The new division will include those currently defined as self-employed but do not employ additional workers. Freelancers joining the new division will pay membership fees and receive full rights, including, for example, legal advice and support, membership in Histadrut consumer clubs, education advancement programs, vocational training, and professional certificates dedicated to business promotion.

As of 2018, freelancers not employing other workers accounted for 7.86% of all those employed in the economy, which is about 307 thousand people. According to the forecasts for changes in the labor market in Israel and the world, this rate is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades. Many countries in the Western world are preparing for these changes by establishing a third category of “self-employed workers” and applying protective laws and social rights to this sector.

“The Histadrut raised its banner to take care of everyone who is part of the working people,” said Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David. “The decision we passed today positions the Histadrut as a body representing all workers in Israel and helps them receive their rights as every worker deserves.”

The chairman of the Self Employed Forum, Rami Beja, said, “this is excellent news for the growing public of freelancers in Israel and their families. But unfortunately, the significant increase in the number of freelancers in Israel has yet to translate into recognizing their status and creating a policy adapted to the nature of freelance employment.

“The freelancers found themselves in the ‘gray area’ between self-employed and employees, while the official institutions ignore their unique hardships. Those challenges are primarily the contrast between working with a limited number of employers who tend to treat the freelancer as an employee, versus the lack of social and occupational securities that the employer does not provide for the freelancer due to being self-employed.”