Matrix, a large Herzliya-based information technology
company, plans to open a large development center staffed by
chareidi women in Bnei Brak in June.
The company has already begun recruiting dozens of chareidi
women and plans to train them as hi-tech programmers over the
next several months. According to Vice President of Human
Resources Y.F. Mutzafi, the staff is slated to increase to
100 by next year and 1,000 by 2007. If the project succeeds
she says the company would consider opening similar centers
in other chareidi population centers.
According to Mutzafi, Matrix is focusing recruitment efforts
on seminary graduates trained to work as computer teachers.
She says the new development center will provide a solution
for women who prefer to work close to home and to avoid mixed
work environments. Although other hi-tech companies have
already begun to take note of the advantages of hiring
chareidi women, this will be the first facility designed
especially to accommodate chareidi women. Company executives
are working in cooperation with local figures, including the
director of one of Bnei Brak's leading seminaries.
Matrix, which is part of Danny Goldstein's Formula Group, was
founded in 2001 as a merger between several information
technologies companies. Over the last few years it has
undergone aggressive growth with a series of acquisitions
which include John Bryce Training, Sintec Advanced
Technologies, Sivan training, and more recently the New
Applicom Group. The company, which employs 1,800 software
workers and earned NIS 800 million ($180 million) in 2003, is
traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
One of the main reasons behind the decision to open the new
center was to find a reliable and loyal employee base, since
computer programmers often switch from one employer to
another. According to a company spokesman salaries at the
development center will be lower than typical hi-tech wages,
but still high above minimum wage. He says Matrix wants to
prove there is no reason for Israeli companies to send
development tasks to India or Ireland when unemployment rates
are so high here in Israel and hopes to persuade Jewish
investors abroad to invest in the project.
