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

Jul 27, 2018

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.

Due to the increasing number of accidents that are becoming part of the routine of construction workers on construction sites, on July 18, 2018, the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee convened and approved regulations that impose a blanket and absolute ban on the employment of youth on construction sites.

Needless to say, the occurrence of these accidents is often due to the negligence of the contractors and/or numerous safety deficiencies at construction sites, as well as their failure to comply with the law.

It should be noted that until now there has been a ban on employing youth under the age of 18 to work at height on construction sites, but unfortunately, this ban is often not enforced. This fact led to the convening of the committee, which decided on a complete ban on employing youth on construction sites, without any conditions.

We would like to inform you that, according to statistical data, most of the youth employed on construction sites are from minorities (from the Arab sector), and therefore, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has set itself the goal of launching a comprehensive information campaign in which they will contact parents and employers in both the Jewish and Arab sectors with the aim of increasing efforts to protect youth.

It should be emphasized and clarified that contractors/employers who act in violation of these regulations will be punished through safety orders and financial sanctions, and criminal enforcement will even be carried out against them.

See a comprehensive review by Attorney John Geva, Hadar & Co., Amendment to the Youth Labor Regulations (Prohibited and Restricted Work), 1995.