The Knesset has enacted legislation aimed at protecting the employment rights of spouses of IDF reservists, ensuring they cannot be terminated or placed on unpaid leave during the period of their partner’s reserve duty and for 14 days afterward, without approval from the Defense Ministry’s forthcoming employment committee.
Under the newly passed law, employers are prohibited from firing or downgrading the work conditions of spouses of IDF reservists, as well as the second parent of a reservist’s child, during and after their partner’s service without obtaining the necessary permit. Violating employers could face criminal charges and financial penalties.
Furthermore, until the end of 2025, extendable for up to three years, employers are barred from terminating an employee with a child up to the age of 14 during their partner’s reserve duty, provided that the duty is mandatory or lasts at least 21 days.
The legislation also grants couples with at least one child eligibility for a one-time reservists’ stipend from the government and allows them to take unpaid leave during the service period.
The bill garnered unanimous support in the Knesset, with 21 votes in favor and none opposed.
Coalition whip Ofir Katz emphasized that lawmakers had diligently worked for three months to safeguard the interests of reservist families, stating, “When our reservists are on the front lines, they should be focused on one thing only — the victory of the mission.”
Rotem Avidar Tzalik of the Reservists’ Wives Forum, which had lobbied extensively for the law, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting personal experience during wartime. She highlighted employers’ swift actions to harm the livelihoods of reserve families, underscoring the necessity of the new law.
The Reservists’ Wives Forum, established during wartime, advocates for the rights of soldiers’ partners and spouses, particularly in the workplace. The group’s efforts have focused on extending legal protections provided to reservists to their spouses.
A survey conducted by the forum revealed significant employment challenges faced by reservists’ spouses, with over 30% reporting changes in their employment status, including terminations, furloughs, resignations, or reduced working hours.
The forum, comprising 5,000 members representing approximately 100,000 reserve families, has actively engaged with coalition politicians and various committees to address the economic and emotional hardships experienced by reservists’ spouses during their partners’ service.
While the government has implemented measures to support businesses affected by war-related disruptions, spouses of reservists have not received adequate recognition or financial assistance, according to the forum.
Prior to the passage of this law, existing protections against dismissal were not comprehensive. Temporary orders provided some safeguards, but the law now solidifies protections for reservists’ spouses, ensuring their employment rights are upheld during times of military service.