What are the rules for employing a minor in Israel?

The Youth Employment Law 5713-1953 (Chok Avodat HaNoar) and its regulations build a protective framework around under-18 workers. The general minimum working age is 15, tied to completing compulsory education, with light non-hazardous work permitted from 14 during official school holidays. The law restricts hours: minors may not work at night, face lower daily and weekly caps than adults, and are entitled to fixed rest breaks. Certain dangerous or harmful occupations are prohibited outright, and an employer must obtain a medical fitness certificate before employing anyone under 18 and keep a register of the young workers it employs. Term-time rules are stricter than the school-holiday regime.

Pay is scaled by age. Under the Minimum Wage Law 5747-1987 and the youth wage regulations, the minimum for a young worker is a percentage of the adult minimum wage, rising in steps: broadly around 70% at age 16, 75% at 17, and 83% at 18. For a foreign family in Israel or a business hiring teenagers, the practical checklist is short but real: confirm the worker's age, obtain the medical certificate, respect the hour limits and prohibited-work list, and pay the correct youth rate. Enforcement sits with the Ministry of Labor, which can impose administrative fines, and the same protections apply to a foreign minor lawfully in Israel. Ignoring the medical certificate or paying an adult schedule of hours is a common and penalized compliance failure.

From the full guide: Employment Law in Israel for Foreign Companies and Expats

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