The Knesset Labor Committee on Monday passed a bill in second and third readings that would make it illegal to fire an employee who is out on sick leave. The committee also extended the permitted maximum leave for a family member of a patient with a fatal illness.

The law prohibits firing a worker using accrued sick leave. In addition, anyone working at least a year is permitted up to 60 days a year leave for a relative diagnosed with a fatal illness, permitted to use sick days or annual leave.

The number of days permitted for a child’s illness or cancer or similar serious illness chas v’sholom has been increased significantly, from 30 to 90 days annually for parents and from 60 to 110 days for a single parent. MK (Likud) Chaim Katz, who heads the committee, praised the move, which he states provides a sharp increase in protection for workers vis-à-vis illness.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)