Labour news from the Middle East
Algeria
Global unions call for urgent ILO intervention in Algeria 2020-02-15 [IndustriALL] PSI denounces ongoing repression against independent unions 2020-02-12 [PSI]
Crackdown on independent trade unions 2020-02-06 [Open Democracy]
Bahrain
GFBU assists construction workers amid COVID-19 2020-04-04 [BWI] GFBTU and IDWF Signed MOU on Protection of Domestic Workers’ Rights in Bahrain 2019-06-16 [EIN]
Refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi freed 2019-02-13 [ITUC]
Egypt
GTUBWW donates $ 19,000 to protect irregular workers from COVID-19 2020-04-04 [BWI] Call for release of photojournalist held on trumped-up terrorism charges 2020-03-22 [IFJ]
Ten icons of Egypts 2011 revolution now languishing in prison 2020-01-28 [Middle East Eye]
Iran
Mounting teacher deaths linked to Corona virus! 2020-04-05 [SZAC] Government orders nationwide ban on print publications 2020-04-04 [IFJ]
A call for sanity and tolerance in Iran at a time of national emergency 2020-04-03 [Opendemocracy]
Iraq
COVID-19 in Iraq: the virus of social inequality 2020-04-02 [Opendemocracy] Illness benefit to increase to €305 per week during coronavirus outbreak 2020-03-10 [The Independent]
Journalist kidnapped by gunmen 2020-03-10 [IFJ]
Israel
Solidarity, unions and the needs of society – Israel’s teachers of COVID-19: a case study 2020-04-06 [Davar] Chairman of the Histadrut and Chairman of the Business Sector slam Prime Minister Netanyahu on COVID-19 plan: 'Fix the economic plan and start bringing the economy back to business' 2020-04-06 [ITUC / Histadrut]
A unique cooperative in Mitzpe Ramon triumphs over price-gauging during COVID-19 2020-04-06 [Davar]
Jordan
Voices from the world of work: Garment factory workers in Jordan 2020-01-25 [ILO] Statement of solidarity with the popular uprising of people, workers, and students in Iran 2019-12-06 [Amman Center for Human Right Studies (ACHRS)]
Garment sector remains barred for Nepali workers over low wage issue 2019-11-19 [The Post]
Kuwait
Ex-labor official calls for better protection, monitoring of OFWs 2020-01-04 [ABS/CBN] 'A serious violation of treaties': ITF warns Kuwait of potential breach of international law 2019-11-11 [ITF]
Workers strike at airport for better working conditions 2019-11-11 [AFP]
Lebanon
Union draws attention to the situation of refugees amid the COVID-19 pandemic 2020-04-06 [Education international website] What the coronavirus outbreak means for thousands of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon 2020-03-22 [Opendemocracy]
BWI Mission to Lebanon 2020-02-29 [BWI]
Libya
Journalist arbitrarily arrested by intelligence services at Tripoli airport 2019-12-19 [IFJ] Union of Oil and Gas Workers demand pay rise 2019-08-26 [The Observer]
NOC calls for safe return of head of oil union taken in east 2019-05-05 [Reuters]
Middle East
ALLEGATIONS OF LABOUR ABUSE AGAINST MIGRANT WORKERS IN THE GULF 2020-03-27 [Business and Human Rights Resource Centre] Arab educators tackle diverse challenges to education and teachers in their region 2020-02-07 [EI]
Stronger Unions! Stronger Network! 2019-10-21 [BWI]
Morocco
Educators in Morocco and Palestine donate wages to COVID-19 solidarity fund 2020-03-27 [EI] Educators in Morocco and Palestine donate wages to COVID-19 solidarity fund 2020-03-25 [Education international]
Report highlights inequities caused by increased privatisation of education 2020-01-31 [IE]
Oman
ITF and union develop government relationship 2020-03-13 [ITF] General Federation of Oman Workers celebrates 10th anniversary 2020-03-10 [The Times]
BWI Historic Mission to Oman 2020-02-15 [BWI]
Palestine
Palestinians worry about expenses as virus blocks way to work in Israel 2020-04-02 [The Times] IFJ condemns Israeli army assault on journalists in Beita 2020-03-15 [IFJ]
UNI Global Union & ITUC call on Norway´s Oil Fund to exclude companies in illegal West Bank settlements 2020-03-06 [UNI Global Union]
Qatar
BWI, other trade unions raise Qatar’s migrant workers’ vulnerabilities to COVID-19 2020-04-04 [BWI] Workers address lockdown woes 2020-04-04 [BWI]
End of Kafala in Qatar is just the beginning for major labour reforms 2020-02-20 [UNI]
Saudi Arabia
ITF and Saudi Arabia commit to work closer together to support seafarers 2019-11-06 [ITF] Khashoggi : A year without justice 2019-10-02 [IFJ]
Saudi Arabia announces new work rules for women 2019-01-21 [khaleejtimes]
Syria
EI condemns the targeting of schools in the war 2020-02-29 [EI] Education union reports terrible toll of Turkish military aggression in Northeastern Syria 2019-10-25 [Education International]
Education International condemns Turkish aggression in Syria 2019-10-18 [Education International]
Tunisia
Tunisie : les taxis individuels maintiennent la grève 2020-02-16 [Kapitalis] “La plupart des conflits collectifs du travail sont réglés dans le cadre des négociations collectives et du dialogue social” 2019-10-25 [Direct Info]
UNI Day Tunisia! 2019-07-10 [UNI Global Union]
United Arab Emirates
Indian consulate in Dubai comes to rescue of stranded worker 2020-01-14 [Khaleej Times] Mandatory midday break for workers in UAE ends 2019-09-16 [Khaleej times]
Women's union launches Irtiwaa summer campaign for UAE workers 2019-08-23 [Contruction Week]
Yemen
The COVID 19 pandemic threatens the war torn country 2020-03-27 [Opendemocracy] Yemen’s hopes and expectations - Part 3: living conditions and humanitarian aid 2020-02-07 [Opendemocracy]
Union reports 134 rights violations in 2019 2020-01-11 [IFJ]
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