The Histadrut, a large federation of trade unions, has a prominent place in Israel's economy and society.
However, the right to strike is restricted in the civil service and in institutions considered vital such as medicine, water, energy, and the police force.
[4] Negotiations over wages were conducted at the statewide level, determining standard pay across whole sectors of industry.
[5] Due to a decrease in both union and employer association memberships, it has been harder to collectivize workers across labor sectors.
[3] Israel's history, and its changes from corporatist to pluralist exhibit its position as a unique type of economy.
Coordination between the government, labor, and employers in regard to how wages are set show its distinction from liberal economies like the United States.
It is only in the past few decades, as large-scale industrial work has seen a decline, and service sector jobs have increased, that the Histadrut has lost power.
[8] This new younger generation may prove to change Israel's labor system and further bring it into a more service-sector oriented world.
It is also illegal to fire a pregnant employee unless the employer can satisfy the Ministry of Labor that the reasons for termination are unrelated to the pregnancy.
Employers other than government security bodies and those providing services to children or the mentally or physically disabled are prohibited by law from conducting criminal background checks of job candidates.
Israelis typically follow a Sunday-Thursday five-day workweek, although some have a Sunday-Friday six-day work week with a half-day on Friday.