The courses take place five days a week, thus that the students cannot work elsewhere at the same time. On the other hand, the promised funding amounts to no more than minimum wages.
As of now, two months after the courses began, not a penny has been paid them. The expellees even heard well-founded rumors that the money would be delayed, and might not even be paid at all.
As a result, the re-trainees struck briefly today, and refused to enter their courses, which are being held in Ashkelon. They holed themselves up in the Employment Bureau in Ashkelon, saying they would not attend classes until the promised funding arrives. The expellees-turned-students count on the money to support themselves and their families while they try to re-enter the work force from which the Disengagement last summer forcibly removed them.
At the request of an Industry and Trade Ministry official, who said she would make every effort to get the payments going, the former Gush Katif residents agreed to resume their studies for another two days.
As of now, two months after the courses began, not a penny has been paid them. The expellees even heard well-founded rumors that the money would be delayed, and might not even be paid at all.
As a result, the re-trainees struck briefly today, and refused to enter their courses, which are being held in Ashkelon. They holed themselves up in the Employment Bureau in Ashkelon, saying they would not attend classes until the promised funding arrives. The expellees-turned-students count on the money to support themselves and their families while they try to re-enter the work force from which the Disengagement last summer forcibly removed them.
At the request of an Industry and Trade Ministry official, who said she would make every effort to get the payments going, the former Gush Katif residents agreed to resume their studies for another two days.