Government Salary Gender Gap Narrows Slightly in 2022 New Agreement Aims for Further Improvement

 According to the latest reports from the Ministry of Finance's Salary Commissioner, the average gross salary in government offices for 2022 stood at NIS 18,029 per month. However, a notable gender disparity persists, with women earning approximately 17% less than men on average, amounting to a difference of around NIS 3,292.

The report, which encompasses data from government ministries, the public health system (including non-government supervised public hospitals), and the official education system, reveals that women earn, on average, 84.4% of men's wages, equating to a gap of NIS 2,085.

Furthermore, the data indicates that additional work constitutes 12% of the average government employee's salary, while expense reimbursements make up 9%.

Among specific professions, doctors emerge as top earners, with eight individuals grossing at least NIS 80,000 per month. In public hospitals, the average salary reaches NIS 20,561, with a total of 6,318 doctors averaging NIS 36,281 gross monthly.

Notably, the report highlights the average salary for judges' typists at approximately NIS 10,000 gross per month.

Addressing the persistent gender pay gap, the authors of the report emphasize recent initiatives aimed at tackling sector-wide challenges. They cite the recent wage agreement signed with the new Histadrut, which aims to prioritize the wages of workers in absorption and low wage levels. Additionally, administrative tools are being expanded, and stability is ensured until the end of 2027, along with mechanisms for allocating resources to address future issues. The agreement also entails a reduction in the work week for a significant portion of employees and the establishment of a joint institution for labor relations.

The report anticipates that the positive impacts of these measures will extend beyond current collective labor relations, potentially leading to further improvements in subsequent years' reports.