About a thousand protesters from the event industry protested outside the home of the incoming finance minister, claiming that the government was ignoring their demands and there was no proper way of compensation • "demand immediate return"

• Halls protest // Photo: Liron Moldovan

  Photo: 

  Liron Moldovan

The day before the inauguration of the 35th government, on Wednesday, hundreds of workers arrived at the home of the designated finance minister, Israel Katz, in protest of the government's disregard for the event industry, which was severely damaged during the Corona crisis. Demonstrators say the government is ignoring the demands of the association, no help has been received, and there is no avenue for compensation and financial aid for the workers of the halls and event halls.

More than a thousand demonstrators came to Moshav Kfar Ahim, where the event halls, DJs, photographers, producers and designers contacted the incoming finance minister and asked for immediate assistance in restoring the industry to a compensation fund that will provide assistance for the last two months in which the halls and industry were completely shut down.

Amit Kaufman, from the Executive Committee of the Halls Association and the organizers of the rally, said: "The event industry has about 100,000 employees operating in 700 different halls and event venues across the country. As of March 12, when the initial gathering ban was announced, the events industry has been completely shut down and has been silent ever since. For two months now. "

"Instead of talking to us from day one and building a work plan together that will help us save the industry, we are only reminded after two months when we are already bleeding. If adequate compensation is not given to the halls and artisans affected by the crisis, one hundred thousand workers will leave the cycle of unemployment and the economic damage to the economy will be much more severe."

Noam Levy, chairman of the Israel Hall of Fame and the owner of the Camilo events hall in Ramat Aviv, told Israel today: "We demand that the events industry return to activity immediately. In addition, we demand compensation for the enormous damage we have done. Our industry will suffer much longer from the Corona crisis. We have closed skies and a lot of events that their family abroad cannot attend. People are scared to go to events and so small events are expected. In addition, because they say the Corona will return in October-November, we do not invite events to these dates. We have no business events that are an essential part of our activities ".

Levy estimates his losses at NIS 6-7 million. He said "the halls must be returned to normal activities. But 500 people is 3000 square meters. Obviously, no small event will make a big event. We know in advance who is coming to the event and we can sign a health statement. They said we would return to activity on 14.6, but no one said how. "

Yishai Chen, the owner of the "Princess Halls" in Haifa added: "As they opened the malls, the banqueting halls also have to open. We would like to have clearer guidelines and not be more dependent on air. Every business depends on so many businesses that are on the edge. There are 25 years in the field, so our ability to survive is higher, but I'm not just talking about my name. If someone hits it, it will throw at me. There is a lot that will not survive and they need compensation like air to breathe.

If they do not start flowing money to them, even if they have events ahead because they will have no way to sustain it. I sit with vendors to make payments to me. They know me because I have been the oldest veteran in the area for many years. There are many who will not return to activity because no one will give her credit. In addition, the couples who are married are left hanging in the air. We do not answer. We have moved the events to September and October and now there are rumors that will bring us back at 14.6 and they want to get ahead. It's a very big jolt. "

Chen added: "We want to contact the next finance minister and ask him to donate all the powers he has to help us. There is no office that takes the glove and handles the banqueting halls. Nobody counts us and we have no answer because of a government ministry. So I didn't qualify for anything. I didn't get a shekel from the state. In the meantime, I started cleaning the business, and lifting the system again, I brought back some of the workers from the PA. It makes me want to cash in from home to pick up the business. "