Minister Barbiei, along with the director general of the ministry, Ohad Cohen and the management of the Ministry of Economy, the Labor Branch and the Employment Service, met with the various parties with the aim of formulating a work plan that would include efforts to preserve the factory by a new investor or continue the operation of the factory by the current owners, through upgrading the factory, and making technological adjustments that will respond to the changed market needs.
Last week, the Minister of Economy and Industry held a professional headquarters meeting with the various relevant parties, in order to consolidate and coordinate the office assistance tools required to handle the event of the closure of the factory activity, which is planned to begin in 2024. Among other things, these are various capital grants, as long as a buyer is found who wants to invest in a factory located in a priority area or in upgrading the factory and adapting it to the future needs of the economy. In addition, a few days ago the CEO of the firm, Ohad Cohen, spoke with the vice president of operational strategy of Pratt & Whitney, which owns the factory in Nahariya.
Minister Barbiei said after the visit: “In a conversation with the employees of the Lahavim Technology Plant in Nahariya, I saw the deep concern of the employees for their source of livelihood. The crisis of trust between the workers and the management requires the involvement of the Israeli government in view of the number of laid-off workers expected to be about 900 workers in the periphery. I pledged to make every effort in front of the local and American management to examine the alternatives that exist on the agenda in order to prevent the closing of the factory. If necessary, if the layoff plan is implemented in 2024, it must be ensured that the next government supports the process by combining arms with employers in the north, a dedicated training program and placement by the employment service in the region.
From an internal work done recently at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, it was found that there are currently about 15,000 Israeli industrial workers missing. Where 48% of the jobs in the metal industry are in the northern region and Haifa. The Ministry of Economy, the labor branch and the employment service are also working on an ongoing basis to create different platforms to connect workers and employers, in a variety of tools, as the issue of employment requires a targeted plan for this event.
Minister Barbiei stated after the various meetings that she will continue to deal with the matter and is committed to transferring the further treatment to the designated minister in the belief that this important and significant issue will not be removed from the agenda until solutions are found for the workers.