Important update!! Regarding the prohibition of employing teenagers on construction sites

Due to the increasing number of accidents, which have become a routine hazard for construction workers on building sites, on July 18, 2018, the Knesset’s Labor and Welfare Committee convened and approved regulations imposing a total and absolute ban on employing minors on construction sites.

It should be noted that these accidents often result from contractor negligence, numerous safety deficiencies on construction sites, and failure to comply with the law.

Until now, minors under the age of 18 were already prohibited from performing work at heights on construction sites; unfortunately, this prohibition was often not enforced. This fact led to the convening of the committee, which decided to impose a complete ban on employing minors on construction sites, without any exceptions.

For your information, according to statistical data, most minors employed on construction sites are from minority communities (primarily the Arab sector). Therefore, the Ministry of Labor and Welfare has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting both parents and employers in the Jewish and Arab sectors, with the goal of increasing efforts to protect minors.

It should be emphasized that contractors or employers who violate these regulations will face penalties through safety orders, financial fines, and may even be subjected to criminal enforcement.

For a detailed review, see the analysis by Adv. John Geva, Hadar & Co., Amendment of the Youth Labor Regulations (Prohibited and Restricted Work), 1995.