Breaking Update
Knesset Moves Forward on Bill to Extend Employment Guarantees for Military Reservists
A new bill moving through the Knesset will enhance job security for military reservists by preventing dismissals and unpaid leave for parents during their.
Jerusalem, 30 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Knesset is expected to pass on Tuesday an amendment to the Labor laws regarding discharged soldiers that will grant people more guarantees against terminations if they are called up for reserve duty.
The amendment includes the following:
An employer is prohibited from dismissing or placing an employee on unpaid leave who is the parent of a child during the other parent’s reserve service period and 14 days after his return, without permission from the Employment Committee at the Ministry of Defense.
The definition of a child for this purpose is someone who has not yet turned 14 or a student with special needs as defined in the Special Education Law, as well as a foster child as stated.
The qualifying reserve service in this matter is reserve service in emergency circumstances under Section 8 of the Reserve Service Law or whose actual or expected duration is at least 21 consecutive days.
Unpaid leave that requires a permit is a leave for an unlimited period, a leave for at least 30 days, or a leave that extends a previous and cumulative leave to at least 30 days.
Notification to the employer – The employee must notify the employer in writing regarding reserve service within 3 working days from the date on which the employer notified him of the intention to dismiss him or place him on unpaid leave.
An employer who placed an employee on unpaid leave on January 1, 2026, and until the law enters into force, will be required to apply for a permit from the Employment Committee at the Ministry of Defense to continue unpaid leave that was set for an unlimited period or that ended at least 30 days on the date of publication of the law.
