In what is being viewed by many as a popularity move, Labor MK Amir Peretz is calling for minimum wage for all IDF soldiers.

Peretz, the former Labor Party leader and long-time Histadrut Labor Federation leader insists the time has come to pay compulsory duty soldiers minimum wage, which is about NIS 3,800 monthly, as opposed to the current salary of NIS 350-700, depending on the soldier’s task and position. The salary mentioned refers to soldiers fulfilling their mandatory service of 2 or 3 years, not career officers and non-commissioned officers.

The bill passed its initial reading in Knesset by a narrow 41-38 vote. Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On expressed his opposition due to current fiscal realities, which he states Peretz, a former finance minister is familiar with. Bar-On called on MKs to exhibit a modicum of responsibility and oppose the bill which he insists in fiscally unfeasible.

Defending his bill, Peretz added that if passed into law, it would create a delineated division between those serving in the military and the chareidi and Arab households which generally do not, and the soldiers would be compensated with a fitting package for their service to the country.

Many view Peretz’s calls as another intentional thorn in the backside of his political nemesis, Labor Party leader Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

It was Peretz who in his campaign for the Labor leadership championed the issue of a $1,000 monthly minimum wage in his capacity as Histadrut leader.

To become law, the bill will have to pass three additional votes in Knesset.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)