Sept. 19


Workers in Nazi Era Ghettos to Be Paid


The German government agreed Wednesday to pay workers who labored in the
countrys Jewish ghettos during the Nazi era about $2,797 each in
compensation.

Compensation for ghetto workers, who generally received a small but often
negligible wage, was one of the last outstanding claims dating from the
Third Reich. Chancellor Angela Merkel had been keen to settle the claims
and asked top officials to work together with Israel on the matter.

A government spokesman, Ulrich Wilhelm, said Mrs. Merkels cabinet had
approved a Finance Ministry proposal to give the money to all those who
had yet to receive payment.

The payment agreed today is not compensation for being interned in
ghettos, Mr. Wilhelm said at a news conference, its a humanitarian
gesture.

The ministry said the government estimated that there were about 50,000
people still eligible to claim the payments.

The aim is to get the payment to the elderly applicants as quickly and as
unbureaucratically as possible, the ministry said.

(source: Reuters)