A new collective agreement was signed on Thursday between the Histadrut and the workers and management of Bezeq, Israel’s largest telecommunications company. The new agreement, valid until 2031, is intended to reduce the gaps between workers who were already employed during the signing of the last agreement and workers who had joined the company since then.
The former agreement linked the wages of about 1,500 veteran employees to public-sector wage deals. Under the new agreement, this deal is revoked in exchange for a series of wage improvements and benefits for employees at a total cost of approximately 200 million shekels (about $64 million), and improved retirement arrangements at an additional estimated cost of about 110 million shekels (about $35 million).
As part of the agreement, annual wage increases of 3.5% were set for the years 2026 and 2027. It was also determined that every employee will be entitled to receive a salary promotion at least once every three years, at a minimum of an additional 700 shekels monthly (about $220) per promotion.
Other new benefits include paid sick leave from the first day of leave for workers with at least two years of tenure; additional vacation days for family events like weddings or births; an annual summer grant of 1,000 shekels; an increase in meal subsidies; earlier eligibility for reimbursement of vehicle expenses for permanent employees; and retention grants for employees with more than 25 years of tenure. In addition, improved and expanded retirement conditions were established.
Acting Chair of the Histadrut Roi Yaakov described the deal as an “important step that ensures the future of thousands of employees who constitute the backbone of Israel’s leading communications company.”
“This achievement is the result of intensive work and productive dialogue between the worker representatives, the Histadrut, and the company’s management,” Yaakov said. “We have once again proven that through dialogue and mutual respect, it is possible to reach significant achievements that benefit employees and strengthen the company’s stability.”
Itzik Baslo, chair of the Bezeq workers union, also celebrated the deal. “This is an innovative labor agreement that moves the company forward and takes into account changes in the labor market and in the sector,” he said. “This agreement touches on all aspects and all company employees, while significantly reducing gaps and improving working conditions, wages, welfare, and social and pension rights. This is an agreement that will provide certainty and stability for employees in terms of employment security, a safety net in the event of termination of employment. And no less importantly, it also provides certainty and stability for the company to continue being the leading communications company in the country in the coming years.”