The economy lost more than 2.5 million workdays to strikes in 2007, according to data presented Tuesday by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor. Minister Eli Yishai said the strikes caused significant damage to the economy, and called on employers and employees to resolve their disagreements through negotiations instead.
The number of lost workdays increased dramatically from 2006 to 2007, ministry officials said. However, the number of lost workdays in 2007 was similar to that in 2005.