The Justice Ministry, it was revealed today, has prepared a decree requiring Jews discharged since May, 1938, when the first anti-Jewish law went into effect, to recompense their former employers for benefits received above the minimum severance pay provided by law.
The effect of the decree will be to deny the validity of private contracts guaranteeing Jews more than the legal minimum severance pay. For Gentiles such contracts can only be invalidated when a firm proves damage to its financial stability.
The decree, which will be published tomorrow or Monday, will set up a commission to enforce the return of benefits above the minimum and also of pensions for widows and orphans exceeding the minimum. The action will be taken without consulting the employer involved. The commission will also be able to order decompensation by discharged Gentile employees, but only on request of the enterprises.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
