A government payment issue that led to tens of thousands of shekels in salary deductions for reservists employed in the civil service throughout 2025 was discussed on Monday by the Knesset Labor, Welfare, and Health Committee.
The discussion was convened after reservists said the deductions were made following the implementation of a new salary mechanism in May 2025.
Any deduction made was a result of the amendment that took effect in May 2025, the Finance Ministry said. It added that the sum will be returned to affected service members as an advance payment, pending a renewed review of the issue.
Attorney Michal Ettinger of the Histadrut labor federation called the situation a scandal.
“Dozens of complaints, and more, have reached us,” she said.
“There is a massive group of [reservist] employees in the Tax Authority whose salaries were deducted unlawfully. This is a violation of the law, and it is baffling that the state, as an employer, acts in this manner,” she added.
Acting chair of the committee, MK Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beytenu), sharply criticized the conduct, calling it “a trampling of workers’ rights.”
“This must not happen to any group, and certainly not to reserve soldiers who left their homes, families, and jobs to repeatedly report for duty and serve the state,” Nir said.
“They relied on this money. It is unacceptable that while they are risking their lives, they return home to discover that the State of Israel is harming their livelihood.”
Reservist tells panel serving cost tens of thousands of shekels
A reservist who recently completed employment at the State Attorney’s Office told the panel he served more than 260 days in reserve duty and was later informed that a debt of 30,000 shekels had been created in his name.
“The decision to step up and serve the state cost me tens of thousands of shekels,” he said.
“In addition to the debt, my unemployment benefits were reduced by another 30,000 shekels. I contacted the authorities, Knesset members, and the finance minister. Some did not respond at all.”
Ofir Tal, from the Association for Reserve Soldiers, told the committee that the new salary mechanism was supposed to solve problems, but “in practice it created chaos.”
“People suddenly received notices about debts of tens of thousands of shekels,” Tal continued.
Nir said that she urged the Finance Ministry to conduct a comprehensive review, accurately assess the alleged debts, and conduct a self-examination of its handling of the issue.
“This incident harmed hundreds of reservists – people the state should be thanking and protecting, not placing in financial distress,” she said.