The sharp rise in national unemployment in the first quarter of 2009 has prompted government officials to relax criteria determining one’s eligibility for unemployment benefits as of June 1st. The Central Bureau of Statistics announced erev Shavuos that unemployment has reached 7.6%, representing 228,000 out of work Israelis, as compared to 6.5% in the last quarter of 2008.

Instead of having to prove one worked for the past 18 months, one will now be eligible for unemployment benefits if one worked 9 of the past 18 months.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)