State to compensate Sderot region

New plan to compensate Sderot, Gaza vicinity businesses, workers to be approved in near future
Tani Goldstein

The Finance Ministry and the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry, the Histadruth Labor Union, and financial organizations have outlined a program to restitute business owners and workers from Sderot and Gaza vicinity communities for loss of income due to the Qassam barrages on the region in May.

Qassam Damage

Qassam rocket hits restaurant / Shmulik Hadad

Empty restaurant in kibbutz near Sderot set on fire after Qassam rocket hits structure; no injuries reported, restaurant destroyed

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The government and the Knesset are scheduled to approve the agreement in the next few days, to enable those entitled to the damages to receive them as soon as possible.

According to the agreement, employees from the region must be paid their full salary for May including for days in which they failed to show up for work due to the barrages.

Businesses located outside the region that employ workers from Sderot and the vicinity will be fully compensated for the wages paid to employees for days on which they were absent.

Businesses in the region will have to prove that they paid their employees the salaries due and will be able to claim compensation for lost revenue.

Local businesses will be entitled to restitution for any lost profit or losses caused by the Qassams, including expenses required to repair damages, fortification, and recovering business ties.

The businesses are scheduled to receive advance payments within two weeks. The claim will then be examined for 90 days, after which the remainder of the sum due will be paid to the businesses.

From June onwards, businesses and workers will receive compensation for indirect damages only if the Home Front Command chief specifically instructs businesses to remain closed or employees not to go to work.