The Manufacturers Association warned Monday that unemployment may grow to nine percent in Israel by the end of 2009, causing another 48,000 workers to lose their jobs. Rubi Ginel of the association says that swift government action could stem the tide of unemployment.

Ginel claimed that necessary economic reforms are part of the package deal that the workers union agreed on with the government in the 2009-2010 budget. The budget has passed its first vote in the Knesset.