Workplace commission accuses JCS of gender discrimination

The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission filed a complaint against Jerusalem Capital Studios (JCS) Monday, accusing it of “methodical discrimination” against female employees.

The commission, a division of the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry, asked the Jerusalem Labor Court to order JCS to provide employment data and bridge gender wage gaps.

It contended that the number of women employed by the company’s news division dropped 76 percent from 2003 to 2010, and that only two mothers were employed out of a total of 131 new employees during that period.

Commission chief Tziona Koenig- Yair called the complaint “a first step” toward promoting female workplace rights, saying that the Equal Employment Opportunities Law was designed to prevent such gender discrimination. She added that this particular case was “flooded” with examples of a workplace structure which perpetuates discrimination against women.

JCS, a private company that hosts many leading foreign news broadcasters at its Jerusalem and Tel Aviv facilities, said in a press statement Monday that it had not received the complaint and therefore could not reply directly to the allegations.

“JCS has employed workers from every sector for more than 30 years, without any discrimination against women or mothers. The group supports gender equality and the promotion of each person according to their skills. It employs many women – including mothers – encourages female employment and promotion and gives them comfortable work conditions,” the company said.

It added that it had already provided the commission with data showing a similarly significant drop in male and female employee numbers during the eight years in question.

It said this included a detailed explanation of the gender wage gaps.