Equal Employment Opportunities in Israel Tziona Koenig-Yair, Adv. National Commissioner

Employment in Israel Unemployment in Israel, 2009: 8.5%

27% reported feeling discriminated against at work27% reported feeling discriminated against at work 45.5% reported feeling age discrimination at work45.5% reported feeling age discrimination at work 39% reported feeling discrimination against the Arab population at work39% reported feeling discrimination against the Arab population at work 35.6% reported feeling discrimination against mothers of young children at work.35.6% reported feeling discrimination against mothers of young children at work. 30% reported feeling gender discrimination at work30% reported feeling gender discrimination at work 32.1% reported feeling ethnic origin discrimination at work32.1% reported feeling ethnic origin discrimination at work Survey of discrimination in Israel

E.E.O.C. Goals To promote the mainstreaming of equality and the To promote the mainstreaming of equality and the elimination of discrimination in the workforce elimination of discrimination in the workforce To foster public awareness to the price paid due to To foster public awareness to the price paid due to discrimination discrimination To become the focal point for information on To become the focal point for information on discrimination in the workplace discrimination in the workplace Increasing employment security, promoting independence and promoting personal – social empowerment

Strategic Goals Engaging employers as partners Promoting cooperation with government offices, civil service, employers and employees and NGOs Becoming a source of information to employers and employees on diversity management and equal employment opportunities Offering professional, accessible and reliable legal advice to employers and employees Promoting equality and diversity and inclusion via the media

E.E.O.C’S Competencies To foster public awareness (best practices, website in Hebrew and Arabic, participation in conferences) To handle complaints (total appeals since ) To instruct through a legal order to employers to submit data To file lawsuits at labor courts (10 lawsuits since 2009)

The requirement of military service as a mandatory condition to be accepted to work as a railway “watchman” raised the question of discriminationThe requirement of military service as a mandatory condition to be accepted to work as a railway “watchman” raised the question of discrimination The Labor Court adopted EEOC’s legal opinion that:The Labor Court adopted EEOC’s legal opinion that: Requiring military service as a mandatory condition is discriminatory unless proven that the experience is essential to the specific jobRequiring military service as a mandatory condition is discriminatory unless proven that the experience is essential to the specific job Test Case - Abdul Karim v The Railway Authority

Total appeals to the E.E.O.C Appeals

Total appeals to the E.E.O.C January – March Appeals

The Twinning Project The project's purpose is to strengthen the institutional The project's purpose is to strengthen the institutional capacity of the E.E.O.C in challenging discrimination in capacity of the E.E.O.C in challenging discrimination in the workplace learning from the EU’s best practices the workplace learning from the EU’s best practices The EEOC will draw on the expertise and experience of the The EEOC will draw on the expertise and experience of the Northern Ireland Commission and other equality bodies Northern Ireland Commission and other equality bodies across the EU (20 experts) across the EU (20 experts) The duration of the project is 24 months, leaded by Bob The duration of the project is 24 months, leaded by Bob Niven (Former Chief Executive of Disability Rights Niven (Former Chief Executive of Disability Rights Commission, UK) Commission, UK)

The Twinning Project Goals: Creating good practice agreements with employers Creating good practice agreements with employers Developing awareness-raising strategies Developing awareness-raising strategies Building legal and quantitative data bases Building legal and quantitative data bases Creating an overall longer term strategy Creating an overall longer term strategy

THANK YOU

Equal Employment Opportunities Bill Discrimination on the basis of: age, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic origin, reserve duty in the army, pregnancy, personal status, fertility treatments, gender, nationality Discrimination is prohibited: acceptance to work, work conditions, promotion, termination of work relations