What happens if an Israeli employer refuses to honor a government extension order?

A government extension order (tzav harchava) issued under the Collective Agreements Law 5717-1957 has the force of law. An employer who fails to apply the wages, benefits, or conditions set out in an applicable extension order is liable for the same remedies as any other breach of a statutory employment right. Employees can file claims in the Regional Labor Court for the difference between what they were paid and what the extension order required — including back-pay for the entire period of underpayment, plus interest and linkage.

The Ministry of Labor's employment inspectors also have authority to issue administrative notices and impose fines for non-compliance with extension orders. Employees do not need to be Histadrut members to benefit from an extension order in their sector — the order applies to all workers in the covered sector once published in the Official Gazette (Reshumot). Workers are advised to obtain a copy of the relevant extension order for their sector and document the shortfall before filing a claim. For more detail, see Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining in Israel: Rights for Foreign Workers.