Historic Reform in Public Sector Psychology Salaries Announced

In a landmark move, a comprehensive reform has been announced to significantly improve the salaries and status of approximately 5,000 psychologists in the public sector. The new salary structure will create professional and managerial advancement opportunities, with salary increases of up to 40%, depending on the employee’s professional level, managerial level, and professional responsibilities.

The reform, signed today at the Histadrut Headquarters, aims to address the workforce shortage in the profession by encouraging psychologists to transition from the private sector to the public sector. This will allow public sector psychologists to dedicate more of their time to the public system. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Center for Local Government.

Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David stated, “Not all wounds are visible, and the war has only strengthened the need for a professional, high-quality, and accessible public psychological service for all citizens. This historic reform in public sector psychology salaries will dramatically improve Israel’s mental health system. The Histadrut will continue to lead processes for the benefit of workers and the public as part of its activities to strengthen Israel’s national resilience.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added, “This is an important announcement for Israel’s public service and the health and education systems. Psychologists are at the forefront of strengthening national resilience, especially during crises. This reform recognizes their immense contribution to Israeli society and the importance of improving their employment conditions.”

Health Minister Ariel Buso emphasized, “The salary agreement signed today is a significant milestone in strengthening the status of public sector psychologists and correcting a long-standing injustice. This agreement ensures not only professional and accessible services for all citizens but also improved conditions that will increase the attractiveness of the public sector for professionals.”

Education Minister Yoav Kisch highlighted the importance of educational psychologists, stating, “The reform we are presenting today is the result of a prolonged effort to strengthen the status of educational psychologists, who are on the front lines of emotional coping in schools and the community. Strengthening their status and salaries is not only a professional obligation but part of a national effort to invest in the future generation of Israel.”

The new salary agreement includes significant improvements, such as a 40% average increase for specialist psychologists, retroactive payments from January, and additional components like seniority bonuses, management allowances, and professional responsibility supplements. This historic agreement is expected to significantly enhance the availability of public mental health services in Israel and attract top professionals to the public sector.