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)