The Histadrut announced last week that it will establish a division for freelancers within the framework of its Self-Employed Forum, making it the first labor organization in Israel to welcome freelancers into its ranks. The decision was made by the general assembly of the Self-Employed Forum in collaboration with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David. The establishment of the new division comes against the backdrop of the Histadrut's ongoing efforts to apply legal protections and ensure access to employee benefits for those seen by the forum as a vulnerable class of workers in Israel.
The new division will include those who are currently defined as self-employed, but do not employ others. Freelancers who join the new division will pay membership fees and receive full membership benefits, including legal advice and support, membership in Histadrut discount clubs, and access to professional development courses and trainings, among other advantages.
As of 2018, there were 307,000 self-employed workers without additional employees in Israel, accounting for 7.86% of all workers in the Israeli economy. This rate is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades according to both Israeli and global economic forecasts, and 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 employee benefits to this sector.
"The Histadrut has made it our mission to take care of everyone who is part of the working class," Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David, said. "The decision we passed today positions the Histadrut as a body that represents all workers in Israel and helps them to receive the rights that every worker deserves."
The Chairman of the Self-Employed Forum of the Histadrut, Rami Beja, said that this is great news for the growing population of freelancers in Israel and their families.
"We thank the Histadrut and its leader Arnon Bar-David for the support and warm welcome they have extended to the self-employed and freelancers in Israel. The large increase in the number of freelancers in Israel has not yet been translated into recognition of their status and the creation of a policy adapted to the nature of freelance employment.
"Freelancers have found themselves in a 'gray area' between being self-employed and being an employee, with some unique problems such as their experiences with some employers who tended to treat them as regular employees, but without providing them with the same benefits that their permanent employees receive."
This article was translated from Hebrew by Rose Angela.
