Kav Mashve

Kav Mashve

Employers' Coalition for Equality for Arab University Graduates

Kav Mashve ("the Equator")   was   founded   in   Oct'
  2007 to promote equal employment opportunities for Arab university
graduates in the Israeli labor market.

Founders:     

Dov Lautman, Dr. Irit Keynan, and the Manufacturers Association of Israel

Members:      

Manufacturers Association of Israel, Federation of Israeli Economic
Organizations, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, the Israeli
Bar Association, The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in
Israel, The Israel Hotels Association, The Arab Higher Monitoring
Committee, The Association of Banks in Israel, The Abraham Fund
Initiatives, The Kahanoff Foundation ,The Landa Fund, The UJA
Federation of New York and the Prime Minister's Office.

An Opportunity for All of Us

The need for Kav Mashve comes from a reality of extreme inequality in
employment opportunities for Arab university graduates in the Israeli
labor market.

Some facts and figures:

• There are 1,340,200 Arabs in Israel (19.5% of the population).
• 31,000 Arabs are university graduates - but only 16,500 are employed in positions that require an academic degree*.
• Demand
  for university graduates in the work force has been on the rise for the
  past four years - especially for technological, engineering, economics
  and accounting majors - and yet Arab graduates experience much
  difficulty integrating in the Jewish labor market.
• In 2006, the number of vacant positions grew by 42%, and average of 40,000 available positions every day.
• The percentage of university graduates in managerial positions: Arabs - 6.2%; Jews - 12.6% ***.
• Percentage of Arabs in high-tech companies - 4%**.
• An Arab university graduate's chance for employment suitable to his skills is five times lower than that of a Jewish graduate.
• The average monthly salary for Jews is 9,455 NIS and 6,377 NIS for Arabs***.
• Arabs are employed mainly in community oriented services (particularly Arab) and not in the business sector.
• The health and medical fields (that deal with human life) has the highest level of equality between Arab and Jewish citizens.
• 10%
  of all doctors are Arab, including 16 department heads and 1 hospital
  general manager. 20% of all nurses and about 20% of all pharmacists are
  Arab. It is their success that demonstrates that the situation in other areas can be different!

*     Based on the Knesset Research and Information Center

**   Data based on employers survey, the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, March 2007

***   Based on the Human Resource Survey 2004 of the CBS. Please see
"Memorandum on Employment of Arab University Graduates", Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Labor, September 2005.

Kav Mashve's Vision:

To promote a business environment that is open and provides equal
opportunity to Arab university graduates, thus substantially increasing
the number of Arab graduates employed in businesses (both private and
public) in suitable positions and with appropriate compensation.

The Core Program

In   order to achieve its objective of successful placement of Arab
candidates in businesses (with emphasis on the private sector), Kav
Mashve works concurrently with candidates and potential employers. 

• Build database of candidates seeking employment in the
  business world, to include Arab university graduates, as well as
  seniors about to graduate.
• Build database of small, mid-sized and large companies, including relevant contact persons (CEOs, Human Resource Managers).
• Sort candidates' personal information and resumes.
• Create
  success-supporting programs: resume revisions, entrance examinations
  preparation, interviews coaching, cultural training, and more.
• Initiate initial contact on behalf of candidate
• Escort candidates from interview stage until the successful integration in the workplace.
• Create
  an atmosphere of willingness and openness among private employers,
  emphasizing the importance of diversity in the workplace , advantages
  to the company and to Israeli society as a whole.
• Educate
  employers that such employment opportunities are not acts of charity
  but a business opportunity, which also has positive ethical and
  societal implications.
• Re-educate the business sector via
  meetings, conferences, public relations and advertising, with the
  assistance of role models and success stories from the business world.
• Engage public sector as opportunities arise.
• Initiate
  post-employment and follow-up programs including workshops and personal
  training, as well as a support system' for employees and employers.
• Overcome challenges:
  • Socio-cultural - preconceived ideas, stigmas and fears
  • Networking - absence of a social network that can provide connections in the workplace, as well as moral support.
  • Qualifications - lack of familiarity with cultural codes of the Jewish employment sector, language barriers, and more
• Evaluate the success of the program by a number of factors:
  • Number of successful placements
  • Number of employers joining this initiative
  • Increased demand for Arab university graduates in well-paid positions
  • Participation of businesses in multi-cultural environment workshops
  • Participation of candidates in training programs.
  • General change of attitudes in the business world

Equality as a Business Opportunity

Contact us at:  Kav Mashve - Employers' Coalition for Equality for Arab University Graduates 

Telephone: 972-3-5198754 / Fax: 972-3-5198768 / Mail: info@kavmashve.org.il

Industry House, 29 Ha'mered St. P.O. Box 50176, Tel Aviv 61501, Israel 

Annual Activity Report 2009

A Tri-national state, By Aluf Ben, Haaretz