Nearly Half of Workers Afraid of Not Being Able to Pay Their Bills

Increasing numbers of workers in Israel have reported feeling anxiety and concern over their ability to pay their bills during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported last week, releasing the results of a poll measuring what it called “civil resilience.”

According to the CBS study, conducted earlier this month, 42% of working age citizens of the country (around 2.4 million people) reported feeling anxiety, up 9% since a previous survey conducted when the country eased its national lockdown in mid-May.

Workers from Israel's Arkia Airlines demonstrated in Herzliya last Wednesday, July 29, demanding resumption of the service by their employer. The Histradrut union produced signs held by the protestors are all directed to "Nakash," the family name of the three brothers whose group owns the airline and numerous other enterprises. In the front line at the right the text reads: "Nakash – Zionism until [it comes to reaching into your] pocket!!!"; Behind this, the poster being held aloft reads: "Nakash – Your hotels are full but we are hungry!"

Workers from Israel’s Arkia Airlines demonstrated in Herzliya last Wednesday, July 29, demanding resumption of the service by their employer. The Histradrut union produced signs held by the protestors are all directed to “Nakash,” the family name of the three brothers whose group owns the airline and numerous other enterprises. In the front line at the right the text reads: “Nakash – Zionism until [it comes to reaching into your] pocket!!!”; Behind this, the poster being held aloft reads: “Nakash – Your hotels are full but we are hungry!” (Photo: Worker’s Union)

The latest report indicated that 21% of respondents affirmed experiencing feelings of depression (up from 16% in May), 19% expressed a sense of loneliness, and 26% said that their mental health had “worsened” or “significantly worsened” during the crisis. Food insecurity has also risen during the second wave, with 21% (33% among Arab citizens) stating that they or someone in their household had reduced their food intake during the crisis to save money, up from 14% in May. The Israeli Employment Service has said the country’s unemployment rate is currently over 21%.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has hit far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hard, chipping away at his popularity and leaving a majority of citizens dissatisfied with his performance, according to two television polls release in recent days. According to a Channel 13 poll, 61% of the respondents disapproved of the PM’s overall handling of the coronavirus crisis and 75% were unhappy with how his government has handled the economic fallout of the pandemic. Only 16% said that they were satisfied with the government’s economic response. This marked a stark reversal from how the public viewed the prime minister in April, during the first wave of the virus, when 70% were either satisfied or very satisfied with his performance.