By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Clalit Health Services said on Tuesday that it “made history” by reaching an agreement with the Histadrut labor federation to directly employ cleaning workers in its hospitals instead of hiring them via contractors.Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn said that “cleaning workers are entitled to equal rights; they are basic employees whose work is no less important than any others’.”Nissenkorn, who signed the agreement with Clalit director- general Eli Dapas, said that it will be implemented during 2016 – at the same time as an accord reached by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon with the Histadrut to directly employ maintenance workers at state-owned hospitals.Contractors skim significant fees from employees’ wages, and contract workers hired by manpower agencies have no job security and few social benefits.Until now, Clalit cleaning workers were employed by manpower agencies and sent to the health fund’s hospitals.Nissenkorn congratulated the workers, saying the agreement is welcome news and will provide them a sense of pride and equality and of narrow social gaps. The Histadrut will continue to fight against contractor conditions that harm workers and to fight to ensure their employment security, he added.
Ben-Gvir ascends, prays of Temple Mount 'in honor of Hannukah'
