Cabinet Begins Discussion on Treasury Proposal to Dismiss Some 5,000 Civil Service Employes

The Cabinet today began to discuss Treasury proposals for the dismissal of some 5,000 civil service employes, part of an overall plan to make Israel’s civil service more efficient.

The discussion took place amid reports that the government’s new economic policy was showing signs of success. Inflation was reported to be slowing down and the balance of payments deficit was likely to improve in the next few months, according to some economic analysts.

A senior government committee supervising the implementation of the new economic policy also heard reports yesterday that Israeli foreign currency held overseas was returning to Israel.

The Treasury proposals to slash some 5,000 civil service jobs would come on top of already approved plans to dismiss some 9,000 civil servants–which have not yet been implemented, and which the government is facing difficulties carrying through.

SOME OF THE IDEAS RAISED

Among the ideas raised in the proposal is the return to Israel of some 10 percent of the government’s emissaries overseas, and the dismissal of some 500 chauffeurs of senior government officials and Israel Defense Force officers.

Economic experts said that unless the government succeeded in implementing the dismissals, the entire economic plan was in danger. The employes, for their part, intend to fight the proposed dismissals.

Eliahu Reiff, secretary of the Clerks Organization, said the dismissal lists prepared by the various ministries were worthless. What counted, he contended, was only the agreements between the workers and the employers.

He insisted that the work agreements can only be changed by negotiations. One of the proposals currently under discussion is the introduction of a five-day work week, as an alternative to mass dismissals.