92% of the self-employed in Israel believed that they have difficulty getting representation before the authorities/ShutterStock
In 2022, approximately 660,000 self-employed people were working in Israel, according to forecasts, and this rate is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades.
While in war crises or global epidemics such as the corona virus, the salaried sector is relatively protected, for the self-employed such situations endanger the very existence of the business, and in the current war, for example, they are the ones who were most dramatically affected by the stoppage of income, the credit crunch due to the interest rate increases and the dwindling purchasing power along with the price increase impossible.
This bleak picture led to the establishment of the Independent and Freelancer Forum of the New Histadrut.
"The Independents' Forum was established in 2020 and it was a real lifeline for the independents and helped establish contact between the representatives of the unorganized and unorganized independents with the decision-makers, representatives of the Knesset, the Ministry of Finance and even the Prime Minister's Office. At the end of the day, this assistance led to discussions that gave rise to the outline of compensation and grants for small businesses and subsistence allowances for the self-employed," says
Rami Beja
, chairman of the forum.
The signing ceremony of the cooperation.
From left to right: Arnon Bar-David, Chairman of the Histadrut, Dov Kotler, CEO of Bank Hapoalim, and Rami Beja, Chairman of the Independent and Freelancers' Forum/spokesperson for the Histadrut
Besides the essential representation in the Knesset and the government institutions, the forum provides important and essential services to the business owners, and especially to the freelancers who are its members, among other things in providing information, advice and tools for proper conduct and management to promote and improve the business, providing a line of experts in every accounting, legal, marketing and regulatory field, acquiring education, enriching knowledge and courses in any subject, and more.
Also, the members of the forum enjoy the benefits of the "Together for You" consumer club from the Histadrut.
Through this club they are entitled to discounted tickets for entertainment, music and cultural events, discounts for the world of leisure and spirit, gyms and health centers.
In addition, forum members have exclusive access to special benefits for business owners through the forum's home application - Freehub, benefits such as a discount on renting workspaces, free tax consulting, free invoicing services, and much more.
Kesem Rosenblatt
, CEO of the forum, adds that one of the great news of the forum concerns the freelancer sector, which is included in the small business sector. ", she says. "So soon there will be about a million freelancers in Israel alone who are not unionized and are not protected and we will be a real umbrella for them and with us they will find a real professional answer as well as "profit and well-being" and will not feel that they are alone in the world.
"Over 95% of the businesses in Israel are defined as small and medium and they are responsible for about 60% of the jobs in the economy"/ShutterStock
The new cooperation between the Histadrut and Bank Hapoalim, the leading bank for small businesses in Israel
The new news for the self-employed now comes from a promising collaboration between the forum and Bank Hapoalim, which is being published these days. As
Itay Ran
, director of small and medium businesses in the retail division at Bank Hapoalim, tells
95% of the businesses in Israel are defined as small and medium-sized and they are responsible for about 60% of the jobs in the economy and produce over 50% of the business output," he says. "Bank Hapoalim sees the self-employed and small businesses as the future of the business world in Israel and is the leading bank for small businesses in Israel.
As of today, we operate close to 130 business departments throughout the country with approximately 650 bankers who specialize in financial advice aimed at small businesses, in the aspects of financing and raising capital, both in the establishment of the business and throughout its ongoing activities.
" of two years, the new customers will have the opportunity to receive a unique attractive loan and be exempt from ongoing fees for a period of one year.
We will also create business support for them together with the Center for Financial Growth from Bank Hapoalim and the Self-Employed Forum from the Histadrut in the financing and financial aspects and business support in all the worlds related to the management of the business.
This is very great news, exclusive and the first of its kind, for this sector, which currently numbers hundreds of thousands of businesses that need this kind of support and envelope."
"Members of the Independent Forum will receive a full subsidy of the membership fees for a period of two years"/ShutterStock
Those who obviously benefit from the forum's services are the fellow independents, and one of them is the photographer
Alexander Smirnov
, owner of shuriken production company.
"The forum gives me the feeling that I have back and support," he says.
"Before I founded the business, I worked as a salaried planner in a factory, and in those days I knew that if, let's say, I got sick or couldn't work as a result of an accident, the National Insurance would protect my rights. When I became self-employed, I suddenly realized that I was not protected legally or financially, and that worried me quite a bit. All of this changed when I joined As a member of the forum.
I feel that I am protected and I also receive free advice from lawyers or accountants. Moreover, the forum allows me to develop professionally as it offers different courses and study tracks such as English studies, engineering studies and much more. Some of these courses are completely free and some are subsidized Very much. So, in the end, the forum provides me with an essential envelope that was not like it before."
For more details click here>>
The independent, small business and freelancer sector is expanding in Israel/ShutterStock
The refund of the membership fees that will be paid with the account debit authorization will be possible for a maximum of 24 months and subject to the conditions detailed on the bank's website.
The bank may change the terms of the benefits from time to time at its discretion and subject to any law.
The activity of the Labor Union is its sole responsibility.
The self-employed and freelancers forum of the Histadrut is not a substitute for the trade union or membership in an employers' organization.
In cooperation with Bank Hapoalim
More on the same topic:
Bank Hapoalim
small businesses