social workers reform: They will get an increase of 20% in their salary at a cost of NIS 200 million

About two years after the end of the social workers' strike, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, the Histadrut and the Union of Workers and Social Workers signed an "achievement" reform, which will apply retroactively from July 2021. Salary promotion horizon based on development in professional experience and constant professional training.
"We were able to bring a historical outline of a radical change in the structure of social workers' wages, along with wage increases with a total cost of NIS 200 million," said Inbal Hermoni, chairman of the Workers' and Social Workers' Union, this morning. I am proud on this day of every employee who demonstrated and carried a sign, of every employee who sat down and of every manager who knew how to instill hope in her facts and mobilized them for the struggle. Achievement reform is underway. "
The reform fundamentally changes the wage structure of social facts and solves the fundamental problems that exist today in the way they are rewarded. Following the reform, the social worker's salary will increase by up to 20%: The social worker's salary at the beginning of his career will be about NIS 8,650 per month and will continue to develop based on the development of professional experience, training and managerial promotion.
The new wage model simplifies the wage structure and eliminates components such as the "minimum wage supplement" currently paid to more than 70% of social workers. The new wage model simplifies the wage structure so that it is clear and unambiguous, while creating uniformity in the wage structure between different employers, in a way that will facilitate the possibilities for professional development of employees. In addition, the model defines a professional promotion horizon and an incentive to acquire professional knowledge, tools and skills throughout all stages of a career.
"The workers and social workers in Israel today know that there are people who take care of them," said Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman. “The hard work of the social workers should also be reflected in a fair reward that reflects extraordinary effort under complex conditions. Today we informed the social workers of a comprehensive reform that significantly upgrades their pay and their professional promotion horizon, thereby correcting years of injustice. We will continue to work for the development and success of social workers and to improve this very significant service provided to the Israeli public. "
Negotiations on the agreement lasted about two years, after the workers 'and social workers' strike in the summer of 2020. This is the first agreement of its kind in recent decades. The agreement will apply to about 10,000 social workers currently employed in the public sector. Some 6,000 workers and social workers in privatized associations and services, and with the opening of the next framework agreement, another pulse of reform is expected.
"The social workers work with professionalism and dedication, day and night, for the strength of Israeli society," said Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David. The reform agreement that we resolutely led provides these workers with adequate compensation for their blessed work, and horizon and employment stability for years to come. "
This week the Union of Social Workers released new data on welfare burdens, with 65% of workers indicating a decline in staffing over the past two years, and 72% of social workers caring for people living in poverty reporting increased workload distress due to staff leaving. The hope is that the new wage agreements will help recruit manpower and bring more people to work in this important field.
The Commissioner for Wages at the Ministry of Finance, Kobi Bar-Natan: "The signed workers' agreement and social workers is a significant milestone in promoting wage agreements with modern characteristics in the public service. Uniformity in pay in a way that facilitates employee transitions, constant learning throughout the career stages, integration of management tools, etc. All in order to improve social service in the State of Israel and allow better compensation and a better promotion horizon that will attract more employees to the profession, retain existing employees and improve public service. ".