(Communicated by the Ministry of Economy)

The Commission for Equal Employment Opportunities at the Ministry of Economy announces the establishment of a groundbreaking forum that seeks, through collaborative efforts, to increase enforcement and equality in employment among the Arab population. This is first time that so many of the government bodies and NGOs involved in the field have joined forces in one working group with a common goal.

The forum's first meeting last week included the participation of the majority of the Commission's partners and organizations involved in the field: the Regulation and Enforcement Administration of the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Justice, the Authority for the Economic Development of the Arab, Druze, and Circassian Sectors in the Prime Minister's Office, the Reut Institute, Woman Lawyers for Social Justice, Kayan-Feminist Organization, the Mossawa Center, Women Against Violence, Sikkuy - the Association for the Advancement of Civic Equality, the Workers' Hotline, and the Abraham Fund. The forum was inaugurated in the presence of the National Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities, Adv. Tziona Koenig-Yair, and Director General of the Ministry of Justice, Amy Palmer.
 
The establishment of the forum is the initiative of Adv. Mariam Kabaha, Commissioner for Equal Opportunities in the Haifa and the North. The purpose of the initiative is to increase awareness among the Arab population of their rights and help them access the tools available to help them, as well as to increase enforcement in the field of equal employment. The forum will, practically speaking, be a kind of implementing arm, with the responsibility being divided up between the participating institutions and organizations, based on the strengths of each, enabling intensive activity in a variety of areas, including education, raising awareness, legal advice, class action suits and media campaigns.
 
Adv. Mariam Kabaha, Commissioner for Equal Opportunities in the Haifa and Northern Region: "I am excited and delighted to begin this shared journey. I believe this collaboration will increase opportunities for the Arab population to join the labor market - and this will benefit all of Israeli society."
 
Adv. Tziona Koenig-Yair, National Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities, welcomed the partnership: "Cooperation is the cornerstone for all social advancement, and certainly of equal employment. I greet our partners and wish us all success in implementing our shared work plan."
 
The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) was established in 2008 to promote equality and eliminate discrimination in employment. The foundation of the EEOC's work is the Equal Employment Opportunities Law of 1988, which outlaws discrimination in employment on grounds of gender, age, race, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, personal and family status, pregnancy, parenthood, fertility treatment, belief, political affiliation or reserve duty in the armed forces. The EEOC raises awareness of the rights and responsibilities which derive from the equality law and has the power to support individuals in cases of discrimination, take cases on its own initiative, submit legal opinions on critical issues and secure legal injunctions to oblige employers to disclose employment-related data.
 
One of the EEOC's primary functions is to give initial legal advice to individuals who contact its offices regarding discrimination in the labor market. It also provides guidance and training for employers on issues of discrimination and equality, conducts research to provide an evidence base for its work and the work of others in this field, and plays a role in advising policy makers on relevant issues. The services of the EEOC are accessible throughout the country, with the national commission based in Jerusalem and three regional commissions serving Jerusalem and the south, Tel Aviv and the center, and Haifa and the north.
 
Since its establishment, the EEOC has sought to contribute to change on a number of levels: at the individual level, for victims of unlawful discrimination; at the institutional level, through encouraging best practices by employers and advising policy makers on the equality implications of policies; and at societal level by raising public awareness about the importance of equality for all.
 
Over the past two years the EEOC has focused on contributing to enhancing the diversity of employees in the public service, reducing the gender pay gap and promoting the inclusion of the Arab population in the workforce. It has also sought to highlight issues of employment discrimination against and labor market inclusion for older workers, LGBT people and the Ultra-Orthodox.
 
The EEOC has represented claimants and provided expert legal opinions in a significant number of cases. It has raised awareness and built capacity of employers through its annual conference, which attracts many hundreds of employers, and through employer training and the production of guidance materials. It has contributed to the knowledge base available on discrimination and equality in the labor market through surveys and research projects, and has provided policy advice on a number of proposed bills and policy initiatives.
 
The first and current Commissioner is Adv. Tziona Koenig-Yair.