Ethiopian Israelis at a memorial service on Mt. Herzl
Gov't approves massive budget to integrate Ethiopians
The plan, coordinated by the Ministry of Economy and Industry, will be allocated a budget of NIS 55 million ($14 million) intended to stimulate an increase in salary and employment rates among thousands of Ethiopians.
The Israeli government authorized a four-year program for ensuring better quality employment for Israelis of Ethiopian origin.
The plan, coordinated by the Ministry of Economy and Industry, was approved on Tuesday, January 19 and will be allocated a budget of NIS 55 million ($14 million) intended to stimulate an increase in salary and employment rates among thousands of Ethiopians.
Ethiopian Israelis protesting against police violence and inequality (Photo: John-Michel Kibrick)
The initiative was created following a government resolution in February 2014 designed to extract from the government a new policy for advancing integration of Israeli citizens of Ethiopian descent.
In July 2015, the government adopted an additional resolution which authorized the acceptance of the program’s cornerstones. These include guidance for better employment, providing vouchers for vocational training, the launch of a dedicated enterprise fund and tracking for job placements for academics.
Employers will also be encouraged to employ those of Ethiopian origin with higher salary packages which will be subsidized by 1 percent. Overall, the initiative aims to integrate 3,600 Ethiopians into the workforce over four years.
A spokesperson at the Ministry of Economy and Industry told Tazpit Press Service (TPS) that the plan stemmed from government’s need to implement a wide scale mission to facilitate the maximum integration of Ethiopians into the Israeli society.
“It is a model which encourages employment of weaker populations that are not in the workforce or in specific areas of national preference,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the model was intended to act as “a bridge for the employment of Ethiopians and getting job candidates into quality employment. The salary will be comparatively high and as a result it will encourage employers to employ Ethiopians in professions needed in the market.”
The spokesperson highlighted that the plan was largely coordinated with the Ethiopian community.
According to the Senior Director for Strategy and Policy Planning at the Ministry of Economy, Michal Fink, the participation rate in the workforce among Ethiopians is similar to that of the general population.
However, their unemployment rate is higher (8.8 percent versus 5.9 percent among the general population). Additionally, the salary gap between Ethiopians and the general population, irrespective of education, stands at 40 percent.
Riki Tegave, manager of the NGO Hiyot which dedicated to assisting the Ethiopian community in Israel, agreed that measures need to be undertaken to improve the lives of Ethiopians, but she expressed her reservations that it would yield significant results.
“Many times decisions have been taken at a governmental level but we do not always see them being implemented. For example the plan to help young Ethiopians with housing remained promises,” she told TPS.
“I sincerely hope that this decision will be comprehensive and that indeed the money will reach the purpose for which it is intended. I hope that we will see the integration of the whole community of Ethiopians in employment. Time will tell.”
