From Entering the Workforce to Making the Workforce Easier to Enter: The Israel Democracy Institute's Master Plan for Ultra-Orthodox Employment
IDI’s Master Plan for Ultra-Orthodox Employment in Israel presents policy recommendations for integrating Israel’s ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) population into well-paying employment and facilitating a continued rise in employment rates in this sector. This plan was devised as a result of extensive research conducted by IDI in cooperation with the National Economic Council of the Prime Minister's Office, under the leadership of IDI's Doron Cohen, former Director General of the Finance Ministry, and Prof. Eugene Kandel, Chairman of the National Economic Council.
In formulating this plan, the members of IDI's research team surveyed the existing situation and policies, identified barriers to change, analyzed opportunities that can promote change, and proposed a series of operational policy recommendations that can be implemented by the government.
At the event, participants discussed this comprehensive plan, which includes the following:
- An overview of the programs and mechanisms for encouraging ultra-Orthodox employment that are currently operated by the government and its partners in the third sector and the private sector
- A quantitative and qualitative update of employment objectives for ultra-Orthodox men and women for 2025
- An analysis of the barriers that stand in the way of achieving these objectives
- Recommendations for ways to overcome these barriers and achieve the desired objectives
This event featured: Eli Groner, director general of the Prime Minister's Office; Prof. Avi Simhon, senior economic advisor to the Prime Minister; and MK Yaakov Margi, head of the Knesset Education Committee
Download the Master Plan for Ultra-Orthodox Employment (Hebrew)
4-4:10 p.m. – Introductory remarks by Yohanan Plesner, IDI President
4:10-4:25 p.m. – Main findings with Dr. Gilad Malach, Head, IDI's research program on the ultra-Orthodox community
4:25-4:30 p.m. – Quality Employment: Testimonies from the Field with Tzippy Bornstein
4:30-5:30 p.m. – From a Master Plan to Reality
Moderator: Prof. Yedidia Stern, IDI Vice President
- Yitzhak Cohen, Deputy Minister of Finance
- Michal Tzuk, Director of Employment Regulation and Senior Deputy Director, Ministry of Finance
- Doron H. Cohen, Former Director General of the Ministry of Finance
- Prof. Avi Simhon, Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister
- MK Yaakov Margi, Head of the Knesset Education Committee
- Dr. Sigal Shelach, Director of Programs for Minorities and Immigrants JDC-Israel TEVET Employment Initiative
- Moti Feldstein, Kemach CEO
- Dr. Haim Zicherman, IDI researcher