Going to work, what are the rights of the workers

After the 'coronavirus' and the directive to reduce the number of employees in the economy, many employers sent employees on unpaid leave (furlough). To clarify, we will summarize the guidelines:

Placing an employee on unpaid leave (not by agreement) for a period exceeding 30 days entitles the employee to unemployment benefits under the following conditions:
As mentioned, the furlough was initiated solely by the employer.
Eligibility for unemployment benefits according to the regular conditions (all year):
- Resident of Israel or temporary resident with a work permit.
- Employee aged 20-67 (no entitlement beyond 67).
- Employed worker, employer pays National Insurance for them.
- Employee was employed (pay slips) for 6 months before the start of the furlough (reduction from 12) in the last 18 months.
Exceptions – did not work due to a work accident, reserve duty, maternity leave, etc.

Pregnant women or those on maternity leave (and for 60 days after returning to work) – require approval from the Ministry of Labor before being placed on furlough.

An employee employed by two different employers, if Employer A places them on furlough, can claim unemployment benefits, even if the employee continues to work for Employer B. The unemployment benefits will be calculated accordingly (including other income/allowances).

What are the steps to receive unemployment benefits?

Immediately upon notification of being placed on furlough, one must register with the Employment Service (registration can be done online).

 After registration, you must follow the instructions regarding the reporting. You must submit a claim for unemployment benefits on the National Insurance Institute website (online) Please note! Attach an employer's confirmation of the employment period (Bell/1514) reminding you of a minimum period of 30 days. Unemployment benefits are calculated as a percentage of the average salary (6 months), in any case, as of today, the maximum is about NIS 420 per day. The calculation can be done using a simulator found on the National Insurance Institute website. The same applies to the number of days to receive unemployment benefits to which the employee is entitled. Note another limitation: The rate of eligibility varies for an employee who filed a claim in 2019, as well as for a young worker (up to the age of 40) who has filed more than one unemployment claim in the past 4 years. The applicant must be available and appear at the Employment Bureau on the dates to be determined, as well as report for a job offered to him by the Employment Bureau, refusal to accept an offered job or proposed training or professional retraining will result in a delay in payment according to the law. The above does not constitute legal advice, opinion or a substitute for legal advice from an attorney, the above is only a general and non-binding description of the topics. In any specific case, it is recommended to seek legal advice from Attorney Oren Peretz.