'There's a problem here.' Infantry Corps reservists
Reservists' pay protest
Reserve soldiers launch campaign against what they term as the financial exploitation of military reservists; ‘It is unconceivable that we cut ourselves off from all aspects of our civilian life in return for less than the minimum wage,’ reservist says
A group of reserve soldiers has launched a protest campaign against what they term as the financial exploitation of military reservists.
Infantry Corps reservists plan on wearing T-shirts reading "Reserve soldiers are being exploited" next time they are called up by the army.
"It is unconceivable that we cut ourselves off from all aspects of our civilian life and carry out every task given to us in return for less than the minimum wage," said Tsvi Raviv, a reservist in the corps.
Despite promises by the army and legislators to improve the salaries of reservists, many remain skeptical that much will be done to upgrade a clause that determines the salaries of reservists.
According to the law the minimum wage in Israel is NIS 19.95 (about $5) an hour or NIS 171.25 ($41.46) a day. Under the same laws, reservists who are students or unemployed get NIS 119.51 ($30) a day for each day of service, less than NIS 15 ($3.60) an hour.
'New legislation needed'
But not only the unemployed and students have reservations about their salaries. Raviv, who has a job, says a 15-day reserve duty last year has left him NIS 390 short ($95). The National Insurance Institute paid him NIS 1785 ($432) for two weeks spent in the army, when he could have earned NIS 2175 ($526) had he been at work.
"There is an absurd situation where I lose money because I am serving in the army," he said.
"I wrote the army, commanders, politicians, and all agree with me that there is a problem here, but claim that new legislation is needed," said Raviv, who has been campaigning for the improvement of salaries for reservists since his release from regular service.
Raviv explains that according to the law, a soldier's salary for a day in reserve duty is calculated by dividing the sum of a soldier's last three monthly salaries by 90 days, 30 days each month. But when not in their uniforme, Israelis work only 22 days a month.
The army's presumption that a month consists of 30 working days, makes the military service a financial burden for most reservists.
Raviv said the least he and his friends expect from the new law is to pay reservists who serve in combat units rates similar to those enjoyed by professional soldiers.
