“Thousands of chareidi women are employed in a culture of repression not to raise their heads, with the constant threat of being fired hanging over their heads. Employers abuse them and take advantage of their weakness and lack of options. This situation cannot continue and the Ministry of the Economy must intervene immediately and stop this disgrace” state MK Uri Maklev during a session of the Knesset Committee on Women’s Rights addressing harsh work and wage condition of thousands of chareidi women.

The committee, which discussed the matter in depth, was presented with harsh facts pertaining to chareidi women in the workplace, including witness testimony from women, including the large gap between their salaries and other women performing the same tasks. In his presentation to the committee Maklev explained that not only do employers take advantage of these women, in many cases they receive government perks for hiring them, including reductions and exemptions in arnona property tax and assistance to the business. Nevertheless, the women are still underpaid and receive few benefits.

Ironically he explained, their work ethic and productivity at work remains high despite the poor conditions. He explains that some employers claim that maintaining a suitable environment to meet the modesty standards of chareidi women is very expensive, telling the committee this is nothing more than a lie, explaining that simply stated, they require filtered internet and this is far from a major expense.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)