Badarna to SadaNews: "The Occupation's Finance Holds 515 Million Shekels of Entitlements for Palestinian Workers"

SadaNews - Wahbi Badarna, the legal advisor to the Arab Workers' Union in Nazareth, clarified in an interview with SadaNews that the financial entitlements withheld from Palestinian workers employed in the occupied territory, relating to sick leave, have yet to be disbursed, with only 11 million shekels withdrawn from the total of 515 million shekels due to the workers.

Badarna stated that from the end of 2019 until the beginning of October 2023, these funds have been withheld by the occupation, noting that many workers were unaware that they had outstanding financial entitlements.

He added that although Israeli law stipulates that these funds should go to the workers, there are significant legal challenges in this case, especially when dealing with the Israeli Ministry of Finance and the far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich.

Badarna pointed out that the situation is extremely complex, but he expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of a fair decision ultimately being made, although this decision will take time, adding: "We are dealing with a problem concerning the legality of these entitlements, which may require a long battle."

The Return of Workers to Occupied Territories 48

Regarding the future of Palestinian workers in the occupied territories, Badarna clarified that the situation remains unclear, but there is hope for a breakthrough, noting that the Israeli National Security Institute has recommended, for the first time since the last war, the necessity of returning Palestinian workers to work within the Green Line, especially in the construction and renovation sector, which is suffering from a severe labor shortage.

Badarna reiterated that the Occupation's Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Interior have not officially clarified the fate of these entitlements for Palestinian workers, but rather announced suddenly the existence of these funds, prompting the union to take legal steps to demand that the relevant authorities disburse them.

He said: "The reasons for the delay in disbursing these funds or the lack of disbursement have not yet been explained or clarified."

He confirmed that they will file a petition with the Israeli occupation court to collect these entitlements.