Damaged factory in north
Photo: Zvi Ruger
No wartime bonus for workers
Treasury insists on rejecting bonus for northern employees who worked during war
Treasury officials are insisting that they will not be paying a wartime bonus to employees in northern Israel who showed up at work despite the recent war in Lebanon.
Helping Out
Shlomi Donner
C.A. Market research survey done for Ynet finds: Most of aid came in form of monetary donations, sending basic necessities and hospitality. Also, 26 percent plan on vacationing in north after war
Government representatives have been meeting with labor representatives in recent days to discuss wartime compensation. In a pervious agreement signed at the end of July, the sides agreed that the government will pay the salaries of employees who did not report to work because of the war while partially deducting vacation days.
During talks in August, the Histadrut labor federation and employers' organizations demanded that the State pay a bonus to workers who did show up at work in order to reward them for the effort and risk.
However, as noted, the Finance Ministry has rejected the demand. As things stand now, it appears labor organizations will have to forego the demand for wartime bonuses.
Employers to select compensation mechanism
Data gathered by labor groups show that many of the large northern factories paid their workers a July wartime bonus ranging between 20 and 60 percent of the regular salary. Most small businesses, however, did not offer compensation.
According to estimates, businesses that offered bonuses in July will do so in August as well.
Meanwhile, during talks the sides also agreed to allow employers to select an alternate compensation mechanism based on the extent of losses sustained by the business as a result of the war, rather than by the number of employees who stayed away from work.
