In a government decision approved today, Sunday, 4.2.2024, the government approved a "wage replacement" payment for hostages to be paid retroactively starting from 7.10.2023, and this as an additional step in assistance and response given to the families
As of 7.10, the families of hostages face many difficulties, including many economic issues. The decision made today is intended, inter alia, to provide a solution for the current expenses of the hostages.
After extensive inter-ministerial staff work in which the Prime Minister's Office, the Directorate of Hostages, Missing Persons and Returning Victims, the Ministry of Labor, the National Insurance, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance took part, a government decision was approved today according to which hostages will receive a "wage replacement" payment according to the calculation of their previous compensation.
"Wage replacement" will be given to hostages who are residents of Israel by the National Insurance, in accordance with an agreement under section 9 of the National Insurance Law which will be signed in the coming days and brought for discussion to the Labor Committee in the Knesset, and to foreign hostages by the Population Authority.
It was further determined in the government's decision that the "wage replacement" arrangement would be turned into permanent legislation, and the draft law would be transferred to the government for approval within 75 days.
- The Minister of Labor, Yoav Ben Tzur: "The families of hostages are coping fiercely and heroically with the intense longing for their loved ones and the tremendous efforts to free them. The hostages are the children of all of us and these days the Israeli government is working more politically and militarily to return them to their families quickly. The Ministry of Labor and the National Insurance under my leadership will continue to stand as a solid rock, accompanying, assisting and providing financial assistance to their family members, giving them an anchor and a shoulder in their mental struggle to overcome the complex challenges imposed on them by the abduction of their loved ones. "
- Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, Yossi Shelly: "The message we wish to convey here is the desire and effort to facilitate and assist the families of hostages during this difficult time."
- Yaron Cohen, Head of the Hostages, Missing Persons and Returning Victims to Israel and their Families: "It is our moral duty to take care of the economic needs of the hostages and their families. This important decision is part of the administration's significant efforts to address the multiple and complex challenges faced by the families of hostages. "
- Yarona Shalom, Acting Director General of the National Insurance: "Every person is a world, and every hostage had a whole and full life in the country before the terrible disaster of October 7th. The deductions and obligations continue to exist while they are far from us. We at the National Insurance continue to accompany the families, including assisting in the legislation and implementation thereof, in order to provide additional help in light of the harsh reality that has been imposed on all of us."