Assuming there are no last minute changes, or that Knesset members voluntarily forgo their annual bonuses, their monthly salaries are expected to see another rise in January 2016. The issue is slated to be discussed when the Knesset's winter session begins in mid-October. A senior Finance Ministry official, who requested to remain anonymous, said the raise was certainly close to going through. "The average market salary rose about 10%, so it's possible MK's salaries will rise by about 4,000 shekels," he said. The gross salary for an MK currently stands at 39,900 shekels per month, and if the sharp raise does get approved, salaries will jump to about 44,000 shekels monthly. The salary of a committee chairman in the Knesset, meanwhile, is currently 41,500 shekels per month and is expected to reach 45,500 shekels. The monthly salary for the Knesset speaker is presently 48,300 shekels and is expected to rise to about 52,300 shekels. In addition to their salary, each MK also receives a yearly sum of tens of thousands of shekels with which to maintain ties with voters and tens of thousands of shekels more with which to promote their party. Meanwhile, MKs also enjoy other perks, including a two-room office in the Knesset building with an adjoining bathroom and shower, a leased car, two parliamentary aides, a pension plan, retirement benefits, an employee benefit fund, continuing education programs, flights abroad, two newspapers, laptops, tablets, an office television and lodging at hotels in Jerusalem on Mondays and Tuesdays, and occasionally on Wednesdays. As of March 2015, the yearly cost of one MK to the taxpayers was about 4.5 million shekels. Salaries for MKs were supposed to have decreased last January, but ultimately saw a 2% rise. A public committee headed by Professor Haim Levy proposed that salaries should be index-linked, not based on the average market salary. Over past 20 years, the average salary for a MK has risen 43% cumulatively.
Israel's MKs unlikely to forgo expected 4,000 shekel raise
"Average market salary rose about 10%, so it's possible MK's salaries will rise by about 4,000 shekels," says Finance Ministry official • Gross monthly salary would jump to about 44,000 shekels • One MK costs taxpayers about 4.5 million shekels per year.
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