Knesset Approves Shabbat Rest Bill in First Reading

The Knesset plenum approved the preliminary reading of the “Hours of Work and Rest Bill,” which would prohibit forcing any Israeli, observant or non-observant, to work on Shabbat.

The bill was introduced by MK Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid) and a group of MKs. Fifty-six MKs supported the legislation in the preliminary vote, and two opposed. Coalition members were permitted to vote their conscience.

The proposed bill will allow employees to legally refuse to work on the Jewish day of rest, including those who do not strictly observe Shabbat, without risking dismissal or affecting their chances of being hired.

Under current law, an employee who refuses to work on the day of rest according to the religion he or she observes may do so to uphold religious requirements. However, an employer may request of the employee to submit an affidavit that confirms religious convictions and observances. If the employee is Jewish, the employer may demand the employee sign a declaration that he or she keep kosher at home and do not travel on Shabbat.

The new bill seeks to abolish these requirements, and allows for employees to refuse to work on their weekly day of rest, which would allow Jews to refuse to work on Shabbat even if they do not observe the halakhot of Shabbat.

"Currently you have to lie and say that you are religious in order not to work on Shabbat, and secular people who do not want to work on Shabbat run the risk of getting fired," MK Lavie said, adding, "Regardless of whether you are religious, secular, Christian or Muslim, the weekly day of rest is a supreme value for us all, Shabbat does not belong only to religious Jews.”