Rabbi Gafni
MK Rabbi Gafni presented a proposal requiring proportional chareidi representation in the various government bodies, a similar bill which was passed in the past. This new proposal attempts to determine that the representation be proportional to the amount of chareidim in the general population.
According to the estimation of the Central Bureau of Statistics, the chareidi sector in Israel is some 600,000 people. Other research bodies estimate the figure to be over one million. However, despite this relatively high figure in the overall population, the actual number of chareidi employees in governmental positions is much lower.
In 2016, a law was passed requiring a proportional representation of chareidim and new immigrants in public services (as an amendment to the law). This law states showing preference to chareidim in government offices and directorial positions of government companies but does not include local governments and municipal companies etc. in places where there is a chareidi population. In such places, the percentage of chareidi employees is not compatible with the actual number of residents.
Thus, in Jerusalem, for example, where the chareidi population runs to 40% of the Jewish population in the city, the number of chareidi employees is considerably lower, estimated at a mere two percent!
This picture is similar in government companies and corporations established outside, such as the Bank of Israel, the Postal Company, the Electric Company, the Port Authorities of Ashdod and Haifa, the Israeli Trains, the Rental Housing Corporation, the Water Company and others where chareidi representation is very low and where some companies do not have any chareidi employees at all.
The new bill seeks to determine that all government companies shall avail themselves of employees from the chareidi sector in proportion to its overall population. It also requires that local governments including municipal ones, abide by this requirement.
