British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 769

CHAPTER XVII.

(iii) Advising Government on the principles and practice to be observed in the grant of financial assistance to released personnel in necessitous cases (other than assistance to personnel discharged on medical grounds-see paragraph below).

The members of the Committee are representatives of the Director of Medical Services, the Accountant General, the Director of Social Welfare, and one representative Arab and one representative Jew. The Committee's recommendations have for the most part been adopted in toto by Government, and are substantially represented in the schemes set out below.

RESETTLEMENT ADVICE OFFICES.

77. A resettlement section, the staff of which include specially appointed interviewing officers, has been set up in each of the three regional offices of the Department of Labour at Jerusalem, Haifa, and Jaffa/Tel Aviv respectively, to which ex-servicemen may apply for advice and assistance in any matter in connection with their return to civil life. The service is supplemented by arrangements whereby resettlement officers attend regularly at the offices of the District Administration in the outlying towns, and by tours made by the officers through the larger villages.

EMPLOYMENT.

78. The main object of all resettlement schemes is the placing of the ex-servicemen in suitable work. An employment register for ex-servicemen and women has been opened in each regional office. The relevant particulars of each ex-service applicant for assistance in finding employment are entered in a card-index classified according to occupations, and placement is effected by a corresponding index of vacancies notified by employers.

79. Government has adopted a formal procedure, utilizing the employment register, whereby preference for employment in all vacancies in the Government service filled by local enlistment is afforded to ex-service candidates. His Majesty's Forces also cooperate in this matter, and employers in private industry and commerce are generally sympathetic.

80. A useful agreement has been arrived at with the General Jewish Labour Exchange of the Jewish Agency. The Exchange and the Employment Register notify one another of vacancies for ex-servicemen for which they respectively have no suitable candidates available. There is also regular interchange of statistical information relating to employment.

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