Workers' Union: Half a Million Unemployed and Social Protection is Absent

Ramallah - Afaq News - The General Union of Palestinian Workers stated that the number of unemployed workers amounts to about 507,000, while thousands of labor families have lost their main sources of income and are unable to meet their financial and economic obligations.

In a press statement on the occasion of World Day for Decent Work, it added that more than 280,000 workers have been deprived of access to their workplaces inside the 1948 territories since October 7, 2023, amid the ongoing aggression of the occupation on the Gaza Strip.

It added that Palestinian workers are living through one of the most difficult economic and social phases, amid a sharp decline in job opportunities and the absence of adequate social protection, along with the accumulation of debts, loans, and financial obligations, which has exacerbated the suffering of workers and their families.

The union pointed out that the occupation government bears responsibility for the disruption of Palestinian workers from their jobs for three years, and the resulting widespread destruction of the Palestinian economy and the rise in unemployment and poverty rates.

It also called for direct financial support for affected workers and the most needy labor families, and for alleviating their economic burdens, in a way that contributes to protecting families from economic and social collapse and maintaining their ability to cope with the current circumstances.

He called on donor countries and international institutions to provide urgent financial and relief support programs to enhance the resilience of workers and their families, and to intensify national and international efforts to raise the issue of Palestinian workers and their suffering at various levels and international forums.

The union emphasized the necessity of international community intervention, human rights institutions, and the International Labour Organization to protect the rights of Palestinian workers, enabling them to have their right to decent work and a safe life, affirming that decent work cannot be achieved in the context of hundreds of thousands of workers losing their livelihoods, rising unemployment and poverty rates, and the ongoing conditions that prevent workers from reaching their workplaces.

He affirmed that protecting workers, preserving their rights, and providing them with the essentials for a decent life is a national and humanitarian responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of the government, the private sector, national and international institutions, and the local community.

The General Union of Palestinian Workers renewed its affirmation of standing by Palestinian workers and their families, defending their right to work, a decent life, and social protection. It called for urgent action to prioritize the needs of affected workers and alleviate their burdens during the current phase.

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