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Class Action Certified Against Rami Levy Over Wage Deductions
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Jerusalem Regional Labor Court approved a class-action lawsuit on Tuesday that allows cashiers at the Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing supermarket chain to pursue claims that wage deductions were improperly imposed for cash-register shortages. The certification covers employees who worked as cashiers during the seven years preceding the 2023 filing and who had money deducted from their salaries because their registers were short.
Background of the Dispute
Former cashiers Meir Adri and Baruch Shaltiel allege that the chain routinely deducted amounts from paychecks when a register discrepancy was discovered at the end of a shift. Adri, who worked five months in 2018, says the company deducted NIS 45.70 after a shortage was recorded. Shaltiel, a nearly six-year cashier, reports deductions of NIS 200 and NIS 57.50 for shortages in July and November 2016. The plaintiffs contend that shortages can arise from ordinary mistakes, counterfeit notes, customer deception, or errors by other staff, and that workers were pressured to sign deduction forms after late shifts.
Parties and Legal Arguments
Rami Levy maintains that a register shortage constitutes a debt the employee agreed to repay in writing, and that its internal procedures require recounting the cash and searching the register area before any deduction. The company also argues that deductions are limited to one-quarter of a worker’s pay and that it does not deduct when a worker refuses to sign. The plaintiffs counter that a signature obtained under pressure does not equal free consent and that the law permits deductions only for clear, undisputed debts.
Court Findings and Next Steps
Judge Rachel Barg-Hirshberg’s ruling held that a register shortage alone does not automatically create a “debt” enforceable under the Wage Protection Law. The court noted that deductions may be lawful only when the amount is clear, proven, and not disputed. The court gave the plaintiffs a reasonable chance of success and ordered Rami Levy to file a defense within 30 days. The workers’ lawyer must publish a public notice of the class action in two daily newspapers within the same period.
Potential Impact on Labor Practices
If the lawsuit proceeds in favor of the cashiers, it could limit employers’ ability to impose “absolute responsibility” for register shortages and reinforce the requirement for thorough investigations before wage deductions. The case may also prompt other Israeli retailers to review their deduction policies to ensure compliance with the Wage Protection Law.