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A conference on employment strategies and social protection in Palestine celebrating decent work day
Ramallah - On October 7th 2010 the Democracy and Workers' Rights Center and the Federation of Independent Unions Palestine with Gaza by video-conference, celebrated the decent work day through a conference on "Employment strategies and social protection in Palestine... towards an effective social dialogue", that was held in the Red Crescent Hall and attended by Dr. Hamdi Al-Khawaji representing DWRC, Mahmoud Zeyadeh member in FIUP Executive Board, Dr. Hasan Al-Khateeb Deputy of Ministry of Labor, Daoud Al-Deek Ministry of Social Affairs Deputy, Muhammad Nafed Al-Herbawi Secretary of the Coordinating Council for private sectors, Henrik Meyer Representative of the German organization funding this event "Frederich Ebert", in addition to a number of unionists and researchers.
In the opening session participants stressed out the importance of this issue and its necessity for Palestinian workers, as such a system if applied contains elements that will help in advancing workers' situation. The private sector was another thing they tackled as it is the largest sector of employment in Palestine representing 60% of the total number of employees. They also talked about the obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation that hinders the development and growth of the national economic situation and to reach to the required level.
Hasan Ladadweh from Birzeit University presented a paper on "social protection for Palestinian workers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip", clarifying that types of such a protection can be provided through policies and programs related to the labor market that is specifically designed to protect workers and labor markets, social insurance that aims for protecting workers against unemployment, humanitarian assistance programs that offers help to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the society that do not have any other source of assistance, and program for children's protection and other programs. He also gave a detailed explanation on social insurance in Palestine and who are the beneficiaries, in addition to social protection for youth and women in the labor market.
Muhammad Sharia from Al-Quds University presented his study which is on "employment strategies in Palestine...where to?" He addressed the reality of the Palestinian labor market, employment prospects and women, youth and refugees in the labor market, as well as education, pioneer work, training and employment. He indicated that the Palestinian society has had for decades an abundant and highly productive labor force, that despite occupation they were able to give and be productive and Palestinian workers who work abroad (especially in the Gulf area) proved themselves to be successful and productive; this is due to the Palestinian population, fertility rate, growth, demographic realities and most importantly the willingness to learn and be educated, as a result the Palestinian society has a low level illiteracy and the majority of its population is youth. At the end, he presented a number of recommendations, asking to provide the necessary facilities, providing programs that encourages people to invest in agricultural and service sectors, enhancing the pension system and early retirement, focusing on programs that will encourage people to buy national products, the government must focus on establishing and investing in projects that will result in increasing job opportunities such as residential buildings and construction, increase interest in small projects and reviving an effective interaction between the three elements of production.
Zainab Al-Ghonaimy, Director of the Center for research and legal consultation for Women in the Gaza Strip commented on the studies that were presented during the conference.
Nadia Abu Nahla, Director of Women Affairs in Gaza who was presiding over the second session gave a chance for representatives from the Ministry of Labor, FIUP, Union of Chamber of Commerce, and Ministry of social Affairs, civil society organizations and others to intervene and respond on the questions that were raised. After the discussion there were several recommendations that focused on expanding the social insurance system, activation of an effective and comprehensive tripartite social dialogue, full implementation of the labor law on all sectors, importance of adopting a law for minimum wage, adopting a trade union law, empowering women participation in the labor market, revising Palestinian legislations, implementing the pension law no.5 for year 2007 and setting a general plan to increase the national product and provide complete protection for it.
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