Israel Employment Guide

Maternity Leave Policies in Israel: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Israel's statutory leave entitlements is crucial for multinational employers managing international teams. The country offers structured support for new parents through its National Insurance Institute framework.

Maternity Leave Eligibility and Benefits

Employees who have completed 12 months of service with their current employer qualify for 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. Those with shorter tenure (less than 12 months) remain eligible for 15 weeks of protected leave.

While employers don't directly pay salaries during this period, eligible employees receive maternity allowance payments from National Insurance based on their contribution history:

• 10 months of contributions within 14 months: 15 weeks of allowance
• 15 months of contributions within 22 months: 15 weeks of allowance
• 6 months of contributions within 14 months: 8 weeks of allowance

Daily allowance amounts correlate with the employee's insurance contribution base, capped at 1,485.83 NIS per day. Any remaining leave weeks beyond the allowance period are unpaid.

Paternity Leave Provisions

Fathers employed for at least 12 months can access one month of paid paternity leave when the mother returns to work. This includes one mandatory overlapping week with maternity leave plus three additional weeks post-return. Employers benefit from 100% salary reimbursement through social security.

Parental Leave Considerations

Israel's legislation doesn't include separate parental leave entitlements beyond maternity and paternity provisions. Companies like SailGlobal often enhance these statutory minimums to remain competitive in global talent markets.

Sick Leave Accumulation and Compensation

Employees accrue 1.5 paid sick days monthly (18 days annually), with a five-year accumulation cap of 90 days. Compensation follows a graduated structure:

International HR managers should note the initial unpaid waiting day, which differs from practices in many European countries.

Practical Implementation Tips

Multinational corporations frequently supplement these statutory requirements. For instance, SailGlobal's clients often extend paid maternity leave to 30 weeks and introduce flexible return-to-work programs. Documentation requirements include medical certificates for leave commencement and National Insurance forms submitted within 30 days of birth.