Court rules in favor of Hours of Work law

JERUSALEM, April 4 (UPI) -- Israel's High Court of Justice rejected a petition by a company seeking to declare the law prohibiting work on the Sabbath unconstitutional.

A furniture store company and 18 of its employees that had been found open on the Sabbath and fined in violation of a federal law had sued. They claimed the law prohibiting work on the Sabbath was unconstitutional because it allegedly violates the basic right of freedom of occupation.

"We accept that the Hours of Work and Rest Law as it relates to weekly rest hours, causes injury to the freedom of occupation of employers and employees," wrote Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, reported the Jerusalem Post.

"This injury does not render the law unconstitutional, because it is in keeping with the values of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, it was legislated for a worthy reason, that is for achieving social welfare goals that are realized simultaneously with fulfilling national-religious considerations. The harm to freedom of occupation caused by the law is not excessive."

The Work and Rest Hours Law was approved to grant employees and employers at least 36 hours a week of continuous rest and an opportunity for families to be together in keeping with the religious and national traditions of the Jewish people, the Post said.