Renovation Contractors Association – the representative organization of renovation contractors in Israel
Mar 30, 2023
By: Natali Shimon Weinstein, Adv., CEO
Hello everyone,
First, I would like to thank Itzik Simon Insurance Agency for their cooperation and their work in promoting an insurance policy tailored to the renovation sector.
Some readers of this article are already members of the Association and are well aware of the advantages of membership and the full range of benefits available to our members. For contractors who have not yet been exposed to the Association’s work and activities, I will provide a brief overview in this article.
It is impossible to cover the entirety of the Association’s work over the years in detail. A bit of history first: the Renovation Contractors Association was founded in 2001 by Eran Sib, the Association’s chairman, along with other renovation contractors, in order to protect the renovation sector in Israel, safeguard the rights of industry professionals, elevate the prestige of the renovation sector, and eliminate the phenomenon of unqualified “amateurs” that had negatively affected the industry’s reputation over the years.
Since its establishment, the Association has been active in all political and business arenas to advance its goals for the benefit of renovation industry professionals. Eran Sib and all members of the management team have volunteered their work in the Association since its founding, tirelessly striving to realize their vision.
For example, the Association successfully reduced the weight of cement bags from 50 kg to 25 kg, fought for the addition of Classification 131 – Renovations to the Contractors Registry—which included filing a petition to the Supreme Court—and later campaigned for the addition of Classification 131-A for projects up to 402,000 NIS. This classification aligns with the majority of renovation contractors in the sector and effectively allows them to register in the Contractors Registry under more accessible conditions.
By: Natalie Shimon Weinstein, Attorney-General
Hello everyone,
First, I would like to thank the Itzick Simon Insurance Agency for their cooperation and work to promote an insurance policy tailored to the renovation industry.
Some of the readers of this article are already members of the association, and are well aware of the advantages of membership in the association and all the benefits that our members receive. For the benefit of contractors who have not yet been exposed to the work of the association and its activities, I will provide a brief overview in this article.
It is too short to detail and encompass all of the association's activities over the years. I will start with a little history - the Renovation Contractors Association was founded in 2001 by Eran Sib, chairman of the association, and other renovation contractors in order to protect the renovation industry in Israel, to anchor the rights of those involved in the industry, to raise the profile of the renovation industry, and to eradicate the phenomenon of 'scammers' that has tarnished the reputation of the industry over the years.
Since its establishment, the association has been working on all political and business levels to advance its goals for the benefit of those involved in the renovation industry. Aru Sib and all members of the board have been carrying out their work in the association since its establishment on a full volunteer basis and work tirelessly to fulfill their vision.
Thus, for example, the association worked to reduce the weight of cement bags from 50 kg to 25 kg, the association fought to add classification 131-Renovations to the Contractors' Register – a fight that included filing a petition with the High Court – and later fought to add classification 131-A'K' – for work of up to NIS 402,000 per project – a classification that corresponds to the large cross-section of renovation contractors engaged in the industry and in fact allows them to be registered in the Contractors' Register under favorable conditions.
Main activities of the association
In a nutshell, I will list the main activities we engage in within the framework of the association:
· Submitting applications for registration in the Contractors Register and classification upgrades;
· Submitting applications for permits to employ Palestinian workers in the construction and renovation industry;
· Training on reporting wages for Palestinian workers in accordance with the provisions of the collective agreement;
· Legal advice;
· Mediation procedures with customers;
· A private committee for workers' claims;
· Promoting legislation relevant to the industry;
· Protecting the rights of those involved in the industry vis-à-vis government ministries and Knesset committees;
· Regulating the working conditions of workers in the industry in a collective agreement with the General Confederation of Labor;
· Seminars and professional training in a variety of professional fields, enrichment lectures and business management, and more;
· Collaborations with the leading companies in the economy for the benefit of activities, professional training and discounts for association members on purchasing products, and more...
A brief overview of the main activities we engage in within the Association:
Submission of applications for registration in the Contractors Registry and upgrading of classifications.
Submission of applications for permits to employ Palestinian workers in the construction and renovation sector.
Training on reporting wages of Palestinian workers in accordance with collective agreement regulations.
Legal consulting.
Mediation proceedings with clients.
Arbitration committee for employee claims.
Promotion of legislation relevant to the industry.
Protecting the rights of industry professionals vis-à-vis government offices and Knesset committees.
Regulating working conditions for industry employees through a collective agreement with the General Federation of Labor.
Professional seminars and training days in various fields, enrichment lectures, and business management.
Collaborations with leading companies in the market for activities, professional training, and discounts for Association members on product purchases, among other benefits.
Here is the answer to why it is important that you contact the association now to arrange your status as a registered contractor!
Beyond the legal obligation to work under a license from the Ministry of Construction and Housing for work over NIS 47,000, the contractor's license has many additional advantages - only contractors who hold a license can employ Palestinian and foreign workers, registered contractors will be entitled to optimal insurance coverage according to the license they hold and according to the value of the project, and of course - only licensed contractors are authorized to participate in tenders to perform renovation work in state institutions and local authorities.
Today, more and more work orderers are asking and finding out whether the contractor holds a license before concluding a work contract, with the understanding that the registered contractor is a contractor with professional experience, has passed tests, and will receive appropriate insurance coverage from insurance companies.
Not yet a registered contractor in the Contractors Register?
I will mention the basic conditions below, but it is important to note that each case is examined on its own merits and reviewed by the association's professional team before submitting the application to the Registrar of Contractors.
The first and most important condition is professional experience – only a contractor with 5 years of experience working in renovations may apply for registration. This experience can be accumulated as an employee or as a freelancer in work performed in Israel, all provided that the experience is 5 full years out of the 10 years preceding the date of application.
An additional condition is that the contractor holds a licensed dealer or a limited liability company and holds a valid bookkeeping and withholding tax approval, and that he does not have a criminal record in the three years preceding the date of submission of the application. A contractor who meets these conditions may submit a file for registration.
It is recommended that the application for registration be submitted through the association's professional team, as in addition to the subsidized price for members, we at the association have a unique track - the " green track " which is available exclusively to the association, as the association's professional team is considered a professional guide in the field and submits applications only to contractors who meet the legal and objective criteria under the professional guidance of the Registrar of Contractors.
After submitting the file and receiving a positive answer, the contractor must take professional exams, and a contractor who successfully passes the exam will be registered in the Contractors Register in Branch 131.
Want to know more? Contact the association's professional team today to join as a member of the association and submit an application for registration in the Contractors' Register!
1-700-700-426
May spring bring with it blessings, days of renewal, good livelihood, and sound health to you and your families.
Natalie Shimon Weinstein, Attorney-General
So what are the conditions for registration in the Contractors' Register?
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