Renovation Contractors Association – the representative organization of renovation contractors in Israel

Mar 30, 2023

מאת: נטלי שמעון ויינשטיין, עו"ד מנכ"לית

שלום לכולם,

ראשית, אבקש להודות לסוכנות הביטוח איציק סימון על שיתוף הפעולה ועבודתם למען קידום פוליסת ביטוח המותאמת לענף השיפוצים.

חלק מקוראי המאמר כבר חברים בהתאחדות, ומכירים היטב את היתרונות של חברות בהתאחדות ואת כלל ההטבות אשר להן זוכים חברינו. לטובת הקבלנים שטרם נחשפו לעבודת ההתאחדות ופעילותיה אתן סקירה קצרה במאמר זה.

קצרה היריעה מלפרט ולהכיל את כלל פעילותה של ההתאחדות לאורך השנים. אתחיל במעט היסטוריה - התאחדות קבלני השיפוצים נוסדה בשנת 2001 ע"י ערן סיב, יו"ר ההתאחדות, וקבלני שיפוצים נוספים על מנת להגן על ענף השיפוצים בישראל, לעגן את זכויות העוסקים בענף, להעלות את קרנו של ענף השיפוצים ולמגר את תופעת ה'חאפרים' אשר דבקה למוניטין הענף לאורך השנים.

מאז הקמתה, פועלת ההתאחדות בכל המישורים המדיניים והעסקיים על מנת לקדם את מטרותיה לטובת העוסקים בענף השיפוצים. ערו סיב וכלל חברי ההנהלה מבצעים עבודתם בהתאחדות מיום הקמתה בהתנדבות מלאה ופועלים ללא לאות על מנת להגשים את חזונם.

כך, לדוגמא, פעלה ההתאחדות להפחתת משקל שקי המלט מ-50 ק"ג ל-25 ק"ג, נלחמה ההתאחדות להוספת סיווג 131-שיפוצים לפנקס הקבלנים – מלחמה אשר כללה הגשת עתירה לבג"ץ – ובהמשך נלחמה להוספת סיווג 131-א' ק' – לעבודות בהיקפים של עד 402,000 ₪ לפרויקט – סיווג אשר תואם את החתך הגדול של קבלני השיפוצים העוסקים בענף ולמעשה מאפשר את רישומם בפנקס הקבלנים בתנאים מקלים.

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...

על קצה המזלג אפרט את עיקרי הפעילות שאנו עוסקים בה במסגרת ההתאחדות:

· הגשת בקשות לרישום בפנקס הקבלנים והעלאות סיווג;

· הגשת בקשות להיתר להעסקת עובדים פלשתינאים בענף הבניין השיפוצים;

· הדרכות דיווח על שכר עבודה של העובדים הפלשתינאים בהתאם להוראות ההסכם הקיבוצי;

· ייעוץ משפטי;

· הליכי גישור עם לקוחות;

· ועדה פריטטית לתביעות עובדים;

· קידום חקיקה הרלוונטית לענף;

· שמירה על זכויות העוסקים בענף מול משרדי הממשלה ובוועדות הכנסת;

· הסדרת תנאי עבודתם של העובדים בענף בהסכם קיבוצי עם ההסתדרות הכללית;

· ימי עיון והשתלמויות מקצועיות במגוון התחומים מקצועיים, הרצאות העשרה וניהול עסק ועוד;

· שיתופי פעולה עם החברות המובילות במשק לטובת פעילויות, הדרכות מקצועיות והנחות לחברי ההתאחדות ברכישת מוצרים ועוד...

Not yet a registered contractor in the Contractors Register?

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?

So what are the conditions for registration 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