Ministers criticize government economic plan over minimum wage

Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli offers criticism of the recently unveiled government economic program.

Michaeli, the head of the Labor party, says at the cabinet meeting that the current government has succeeded in preserving the economy alongside COVID, “and precisely because of that, this government cannot afford to harm the minimum wage of so many workers and vulnerable populations, as stated in the current package deal.”

Under Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman’s new plan, unveiled earlier this month, the minimum wage would rise by just 0.54 shekels — drastically less than would be seen in legislation that many have been pushing to advance, and below the rate that the average wage has risen.

“That is why we in the Labor Party will continue to work so that the minimum wage is not harmed, and I am sure that a way to raise it can be found.”

Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg also criticizes the plan, saying that the rise listed in the deal “is actually an erosion of wages, and not an increase. The proposal needs to be improved.”