Retiring with Dignity: Histadrut pushes universal pension reform to the forefront of elections

Demanding Universal Old-Age Security for 1.3 Million Pensioners

At the Histadrut, we refuse to allow the builders of our society to be neglected in the national political arena. Representing over 1.3 million retirees across Israel, our Pensioners’ Union (opens in a new window) convened parliamentary candidates at Histadrut headquarters in Tel Aviv to demand clear, binding commitments ahead of the upcoming elections. Israeli retirees represent a decisive demographic force, equivalent to 30 Knesset seats, and we gathered union leaders nationwide to end years of severe pension erosion.

Our primary legislative demand is an immediate, phased increase in the basic old-age pension, legally indexing benefits to 25% of the national average wage. Representatives from across the change camp, including The Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu, BeYachad, Yashar, Amcha Yisrael, and Tzomet Beit Yisrael, committed to this baseline. We reiterated that pensions must remain universal rather than means-tested to prevent gradual benefit degradation. In stark contrast, Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism Party, Hatzionoot Hadatit, and Otzma Yehudit failed to submit any policy platform addressing the welfare of pensioners.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that in Israel, the elderly do not have to collect bottles or choose between medication and food,” emphasized Shmuel Mizrahi, Chairman of the Histadrut’s Pensioners’ Union. “The people who founded and built this country must not only survive, but live with dignity and buy gifts for their grandchildren.”

Shmuel Mizrahi, Chairman of the Histadrut’s Pensioners’ Union.

Overhauling Long-Term Care and Safeguarding Public Funds

Securing retirement requires more than income indexation; it demands fixing Israel’s crumbling elderly care framework. We are demanding the enactment of a comprehensive National Long-Term Care Insurance Law to replace commercial insurance policies, asserting that essential eldercare must never be abandoned to private market interests.

We likewise demand an immediate halt to the transfer of National Insurance Institute reserves into discretionary government budgets. As our union continues putting older adults at the center of the national agenda (opens in a new window), we insist on restoring full employer social security contributions to guarantee the solvency of our national safety nets for future generations.

Building a Resilient Social Contract

Across the world, rising living costs and regressive welfare cuts threaten the fundamental right to retire in comfort, underscoring the urgent need for universal social protection floors. A just society guarantees that after decades in the workforce, every individual receives an inflation-proof income and accessible, high-quality public care.

“We heard many commitments from the candidates today, and we will not let the parties rest until they fulfill them,” affirmed Mizrahi. “We will stand here after the elections to demand that any government formed delivers real solutions for Israel’s seniors.”

The Histadrut will continue spearheading this struggle, leveraging our collective voice to ensure that aging with dignity is guaranteed for every worker in Israel.

This article incorporates information from an article published by Davar