Labor Law — Know Your Rights
Israel Minimum Wage 2026 —
Current Rates and Your Rights
The minimum wage in Israel in 2026 is NIS 6,300 per month and NIS 35.17 per hour. If your employer is paying you less, you have the right to claim the full amount — going back up to six years.
Current Minimum Wage in Israel (2026)
Monthly Rate
NIS 6,300
Per full-time employee (186 monthly hours)
Hourly Rate
NIS 35.17
Per hour worked, for all employees
The minimum wage applies to all employees in Israel — salaried, hourly, part-time, and full-time. It also applies to foreign workers, regardless of their visa category or the industry they work in. An employer cannot pay below this threshold under any circumstances.
When calculating whether you are receiving minimum wage, what counts is your base wage — not overtime premiums, which are calculated separately on top of the base rate. If your employer uses overtime pay to bring your total up to minimum wage while your base hourly rate is below NIS 35.17, that arrangement is unlawful.
Youth workers (under 18): Employers may legally pay young employees a reduced rate — a percentage of the minimum wage based on age — during their first years of employment. However, this exception is narrow and regulated. A youth worker who has completed 12 months with the same employer is entitled to the full minimum wage.
Workers with disabilities: A separate arrangement exists for employees with disabilities working in sheltered employment frameworks, where a reduced wage may be permitted under specific licensing conditions. Outside of these licensed frameworks, the full minimum wage applies.
What To Do If You Are Paid Below Minimum Wage
If you suspect you are being paid below minimum wage, the first step is to document everything: gather your payslips, contracts, and a record of the hours you actually worked. Compare your gross hourly pay against the statutory rate of NIS 35.17. If there is a gap, you are entitled to claim it back.
Retroactive claims — 6-year window: Under Israeli labour law, you can claim unpaid minimum wage going back six years from the date of your claim. This means even if you have been underpaid for years, you can recover a significant sum. Claims are filed in the Labour Court and interest accrues on the unpaid amounts.
Filing a complaint with the Ministry of Economy: You can submit a complaint to the Ministry of Economy's labour inspection division. Inspectors have the authority to audit your employer's records, impose fines, and require back payment. This route is free and does not require a lawyer — though legal representation can strengthen your position.
Labour Court claim: A lawsuit in the Labour Court is the most direct route to recovering unpaid wages with interest. The court can also award compensation for procedural violations, such as failure to provide payslips or to make pension contributions on the correct base wage.
Employer penalties: An employer found to have paid below minimum wage faces civil liability for all shortfalls plus interest, administrative fines under the Minimum Wage Law, and in serious or repeat cases, criminal prosecution. Israeli courts take minimum wage violations seriously, particularly where vulnerable workers or foreign nationals are involved.
Frequently Asked Questions — Minimum Wage in Israel 2026
Answers to the most common questions about minimum wage rights in Israel
Paid Below Minimum Wage?
Free Initial Consultation — Labor Law
You may be entitled to back pay going up to 6 years