The Working Week in Israel

How Many Hours Are in the Working Week in Israel?

According to the arrangements described in the original article, the standard working week in Israel is 42 hours. At workplaces operating on a five-day schedule, four days last 8 hours and 36 minutes of work each, excluding breaks, while the fifth day is one hour shorter. A night shift generally has a seven-hour standard day. Employees working beyond the relevant limits may be entitled to overtime pay under Israeli employment law.

Travel time to and from work is ordinarily not counted or paid as working time. However, time spent in required training, professional instruction and waiting at the workplace may count as paid working hours, according to the source article, even if training does not result in hiring.

The article describes the monthly working-hours basis as 182 hours. This figure is used for some wage calculations and may affect sickness-related payments, compensation, vacation pay and other entitlements.

How Should Weekly Pay Be Calculated?

Over four days of the week, the working day amounts to 8 hours and 36 minutes. One additional day, chosen by the employer, is shortened by an hour to 7 hours and 36 minutes. These hours normally exclude breaks. At many workplaces, collective agreements provide for a nine-hour day including a 24-minute break.

The original article states that a week of night shifts should not exceed 58 hours including overtime. It therefore cites a limit of 16 overtime hours per week, for both day and night work, and a maximum shift length of 12 hours. It also describes limits on the frequency of night shifts and possible penalties for employers who violate them.

The source argues that overtime arises only when a person works a full five- or six-day week and that overtime already included in a global salary is treated differently. It also suggests that part-time workers working fewer than 42 hours per week cannot have overtime. These are simplified historical descriptions and should not replace current legal guidance: overtime rights can depend on daily as well as weekly hours and on the actual employment arrangement.

An Interesting Fact

At the beginning of the industrial era, long working days of around 12 hours were common. Hours were gradually reduced. A major strike in Barcelona in 1919 helped establish an eight-hour working day; in 1940, US legislation established a standard 40-hour working week. France later reduced its standard week to 35 hours.

A trend toward shorter working weeks while preserving pay has been discussed in countries worldwide. Some economists and researchers argue that reduced hours can increase productivity and efficiency. The original author wondered what Israeli policymakers would make of this idea.

What Is a Global Salary?

A “global salary” is a monthly pay arrangement that may include a predetermined component for overtime, whether or not all those hours are actually worked. Such arrangements remain subject to labor-law requirements. In practice, an employer may pay in advance for potential overtime that is not always required. The AVRIKA editorial team emphasizes that this article provides general background information only. For advice about an individual employment situation, contact your workplace's human resources department or a competent professional body.