Sushi lovers can breathe sigh of relief
צילום: שי רוזנצוויג
Chefs win sushi war
Government votes down proposal to fire 900 chefs at ethnic restaurants across Israel
The government voted Sunday against the Treasury's demand to dismiss foreign chef across Israel.
As a result of the decision, about 900 restaurant workers mostly hailing from China, Thailand and Japan will be able to continue working in Israel until next year.
The decision, which passed by an overwhelming majority, was proceeded by fierce debate pitting the Tourism and Finance Ministries against each other.
A Finance Ministry official told Ynet: “This is not the time to contend with sushi and sashimi. The international economic crisis is at our door and the tourism minister is asking that we refrain from firing hundreds of foreign restaurant employees, in contradiction of government policies. This is scandalous.”
Meanwhile, a statement by Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On slammed Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham. “The government adopted a social and economic agenda for Israel. Minister Avraham’s proposal contradicts the government's decision," the statement said.
The finance minister backed his argument by saying that "Israeli workers will replace foreign ones, especially amongst the population whose participation in the work force is low and whose unemployment rate is high.
“The Finance Ministry proposed that the restaurant business create a professional reinforcement and training program for Israelis who will replace foreigners as well as a program addressing the lack of skilled workers in the ethnic restaurant business while decreasing the number of foreign workers.”
However, Tourism Minister Avraham told Ynet that “the government is not permitted to use its power and authority without considering the few hundred ethnic restaurant employees.
“These restaurants employ hundreds of Israelis and 900 foreign chef positions do not endanger the Israeli labor market," she said.
