Government measures in key jurisdictions 5th edition - Flipbook - Page 71
Israel
There have been no extensions of or additions to this law, and the window for placing requests
for such grants closed on January 31, 2021.
Eligibility for unemployment benefits has been extended to 30.6.2021 for individuals who were
furloughed or dismissed, and who fall into one of the following categories:
•
Individuals whose eligibility for unemployment ended on or after 1.3.2020, or
•
Individuals whose eligibility for unemployment ended before 1.3.2020, and who stopped
working between 1.3.2020-30.6.2021, or
•
Individuals whose eligibility for unemployment ended in January or February 2020.
The National Insurance Institute is providing grants to individuals that return to work after having
been furloughed or dismissed. Those who return to work for their previous employer or begin
working for a new employer for a salary lower than their salary prior to furlough or dismissal are
eligible for the grant. So long as they remain employed, individuals may receive the grant for a
period of up to four months, from the date of return to work and no later than June 30, 2021.
The grant is calculated per day of work (up to a cap of NIS 200 per day). The size of the grant is
determined by an individual's previous salary and their new salary upon return to work. There
are separate calculation schemes for those under age 28 and those age 28 and above.
To be eligible for the grant, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
•
The individual was not employed between the dates August 8, 2020 to October 31, 2020
(inclusive);
•
The individual received at least 75 days of unemployment insurance, between the March 1,
2020 and October 31, 2020 (whether paid consecutively or not);
•
The date the individual returned to work was between November 1, 2020 and February 28,
2021.
•
The individual returned to work as an employee for at least 14 days (consecutive or not).
Additionally, the National Insurance Institute has paid one-time grants in an amount of NIS 2,000
to lower-income individuals who received unemployment insurance based on low income for an
extended period of time. Individuals were eligible for said grants if the following two criteria
were met:
•
The individual received unemployment insurance for at least 100 days (consecutively or
not), between the March 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020;
•
The individual's average daily wage was less than NIS 422.04.
The grants were to have been automatically transferred to eligible individuals by the middle of
December, 2020. Additional grants of this type have not been administered.
Finally, although not immediately in the realm of employment, it is important to note that this
past summer the government issued one-time grants to all citizens and residents of Israel, as
follows:
•
750 NIS to all adults
•
An additional grant paid to parents of minors:
- 500 NIS for each child, up to and including the fourth child
- 300 NIS for each additional child after the fourth
•
Those who are eligible for national insurance benefits (such as supplemental security
income or alimony) are eligible for an increased grant of 1,500 NIS
•
Individuals whose yearly income in 2019 was above 649,560 NIS (gross) are ineligible for
the grant
While there are currently government-level discussions concerning another grant payment, no
decision has been made regarding additional individual grants.
Israel’s insolvency legislation has not changed during the Covid-19 pandemic. However,
during the month of July 2020, the Israeli Ministry of Justice introduced a draft bill for new
regulations, allowing a company additional time to reach an agreement with its creditors.
Has the
government made Under the proposed new regulations, courts will have the option to order a stay of
proceedings for a period of up to three months for a company experiencing difficulties, prior
any changes
to declaring such company insolvent. This three-month period will allow the company to reach
to insolvency
an agreement with its creditors, while simultaneously prohibiting the withdrawal of funds and
legislation?
assets from the company. However, the new regulations have yet to be adopted, and it is
unclear if and when they will be.
Insolvency
Government measures in key jurisdictions
71
