Chief Rabbi of Israel Dovid Lau Shlita has been working on reforms in the state-run kashrus system. In Jerusalem for example, mashgichim, who were previously employed by the stores they supervise were by and large shifted to become employees of a manpower company.

There are also petitions that are soon to be ruled on by the High Court of Justice that are likely to have a profound impact on the state-run kashrus system. For many of the nation’s mashgichim who are working in the nation’s local religious councils as mashgichim, they have decided to not just sit around and see what occurs, but that have decided to unionize.

The High Court has already ruled, in June 2016, that the existing system by which mashgichim are officially employed by the stores they supervise represents a conflict of interests which all too often results in legal complications and lawsuits. The court pointed out in its ruling that all too often salary-related issues result in compromised kashrus.

Today, there are still about 6,000 mashgichim who are yet unware as to their futures and who will be their employer; aware there is talk of some type of nationwide kashrus. Some fear the Chief Rabbinate will compel them to accept and unfavorable deal. For most the biggest fear is what is occurring in Jerusalem, that they will become manpower agency workers, which they feel will leave them with few social benefits.

The mashgichim are working to unionize, feeling they must have one nationwide body representing them and at present, some 1,500 of the 6,000 have signed up to unionize. They are well-aware that in the past mashgichim made such efforts, to unionize, albeit unsuccessfully.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)