If the current situation continues, businesses will have no choice but to fire workers and put them on unpaid leave, Shachar Turjeman, the president of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, said in an urgent letter to Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat sent on Monday.
Turjeman asked Barkat to work toward easing the restrictions on the economy resulting from the state of emergency that followed the Israel Air Force airstrikes against Iran early on Friday, which led to a significant Iranian response.
He proposed three types of actions for the ministry to take to avoid the widespread firings of employees.
The first was allowing businesses to open with special adjustments to ensure that workers and consumers had access to protected spaces.
“As long as there is enough shelter space per the state’s instructions where people can evacuate to it easily, businesses can be opened,” Turjeman urged.
“Allowing for economic activity in the market, including commerce, is necessary for the citizens, the workers, and the economy, as every day like this costs the economy a fortune and harms the business sector,” he added.
Barkat meets business leaders to create solutions
Turjeman also called on Barkat to advance a flexible plan to allow for unpaid leave to ensure “efficient use of human resources along with minimizing the costs to the state in an emergency.”
Further, he recommended starting discussions regarding compensation for businesses that have been harmed, saying, “Don’t wait for the last minute to create a plan.”
Barkat said on Sunday that he had met with business leaders, including Turjeman, and that “together we are creating an array of joint solutions” that will be presented in the coming days.
“The economy is strong but needs certainty, backup, and conditions that will allow it to continue to function even in an emergency,” Turjeman said.