Many workers sign their employment contract on the day they land in Israel. They are tired from the flight, nervous about making a good impression, and worried that asking questions might cause problems. So they sign.
It is an understandable situation — but a signed contract is a legal document that can be used against you later. A clause you did not notice when you signed can become the reason you are paid less than you expected, given no rest day, or charged for things that should be covered. Reading before you sign is one of the most protective things you can do for yourself.
| ⚠ IMPORTANT |
| You have the legal right to ask for 24 hours to read any contract before signing. An employer who says you must sign immediately – with no time to read – is telling you something important about how they plan to treat you. |
First: Get It Translated
Israeli employment contracts are almost always in Hebrew. Before you read, you need to understand. Options:
- Ask your agency or recruiter for an English version. A reputable agency should always have one ready.
- Use the Google Translate camera feature on your phone – point it at the page and it translates in real time. It is not perfect, but it gives you the main idea.
- Ask a bilingual friend or community member to read it with you – not for you. Going through it together means you understand it yourself.
- Call Kav LaOved (Worker’s Hotline, 03-688-2126) – they sometimes give advice on specific contract clauses.
Seven Things to Check Before You Sign
1. Your Monthly Salary
The contract must state a specific amount in Israeli Shekels (NIS). Israel’s minimum wage is updated by the government periodically – as of early 2025 it was approximately 6,300 NIS per month for full-time work, and it has risen year on year. Check the current figure at gov.il before you sign.
What to look for: Is the amount written as a fixed number? Or does it say to be agreed or as determined by the employer? If it is not a specific number, do not sign until it is.
2. Working Hours and Overtime
Israeli law allows a maximum of 42 hours per week – that is 8.5 hours a day in a 5-day week. Any hours beyond that are overtime and must be paid at a higher rate:
- First 2 overtime hours each day: 125% of your regular hourly rate
- Every additional hour after that: 150% of your regular hourly rate
What to look for: Does the contract say how many hours a day and how many a week you are expected to work? Does it say anything about overtime? Be cautious about any contract that says hours as required.
3. Your Rest Day and Annual Leave
Every worker in Israel gets one rest day per week – usually from Friday evening through Saturday for Jewish employers, though this can be agreed differently. You also have the right to paid annual leave. Under Israeli law this is a minimum of 14 working days per year for a 5-day work week, increasing with how long you have worked.
What to look for: Is your rest day written in the contract? Is the number of annual leave days stated, and is it at least 14? If someone told you verbally about rest days but it is not in the contract, that promise has no legal weight.
4. Housing Deductions (for caregiving workers)
If you are a caregiver living in your employer’s home, they are allowed to deduct money from your salary to cover the room and food they provide. But there is a legal maximum — it should not be more than 25% of the monthly minimum wage.
Check the deduction amount in the contract. Is it within the legal limit? Is the housing described — a private room, a shared room, a separate flat? If possible, see the accommodation before you agree to any deduction for it.
5. Health Insurance
Employers of foreign workers in Israel are legally required to provide health insurance. The insurance company must be licensed in Israel.
Make sure the name of the insurance company is written in the contract. Who pays for it — you or the employer? If there is any deduction from your salary for insurance, the exact amount must be a specific number, not vague.
6. Notice Period
If either you or your employer wants to end the working relationship, both sides must give advance notice. Israeli law sets a minimum — usually one month after you have worked for more than a year. A shorter notice period, or one that applies differently to you than to the employer, puts you at a disadvantage.
Read this clause carefully. Does the same rule apply to the employer as it does to you, or does the employer have an easier way out?
7. Who Pays for What
Recruitment fees, visa costs, medical checks, flights — these all cost money. Under Israeli law, employers cannot charge workers recruitment fees. But the reality is more complicated, especially when agents in Sri Lanka are involved.
If the contract asks you to repay anything to the employer — any fee, any cost, any advance — do not sign until you fully understand what you are agreeing to. Take advice first. This clause has trapped workers before.
These Clauses Are Red Flags – Get Help Before Signing
| WARNING – Contract Red Flags |
| Get independent advice before signing any contract that contains the following: – Any clause allowing the employer to hold your passport – Any clause allowing the employer to withhold your salary as a deposit or security – Any clause giving up your right to take complaints to the labour court – Any clause saying you agree to work overtime without pay – Any clause saying the contract can be changed by the employer without your agreement |
After You Sign – What to Keep
Once you sign, you are entitled to your own copy of the contract. This is not a favour the employer gives you – it is your legal right. Keep it in three places:
- One physical copy in your document folder
- One photo saved in Google Drive or Gmail
- One copy with a trusted person back home in Sri Lanka
| ✓ QUICK TIP |
| Even after signing, you can report unfair contract terms. The Ministry of Labour’s enforcement unit (054-478-4551) can investigate. Signing does not mean you gave up your rights. |
Reading a contract carefully takes time. It can feel awkward to ask for that time. But the workers who ask questions before signing almost always have fewer problems later.
| Have a question about this? |
| Still not sure? Ask the Expert. There is a clause in my contract I do not understand. Can someone explain what it means before I sign? The LankaConnect Ask the Expert corner is here for exactly these questions. Real answers, in Sinhala or English, from people who understand the Israeli system. Go to: LankaConnect.com/ask-the-expert |
Comments