War Disrupts Half a Million Workers and Causes Economic Losses Exceeding 9 Billion Dollars

SadaNews - The Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Shaer Saad, stated that the ongoing Israeli aggression against our people since October 7, 2023, has caused over 507,000 Palestinian workers to be unable to work for more than two years, resulting in economic losses exceeding 9 billion dollars. Additionally, workers within the 1948 territories have been denied access to their workplaces, leading to monthly losses exceeding one billion and three hundred and fifty million shekels.

The union, in a statement by Saad on the occasion of the World Day for Decent Work, affirmed that this year has been one of the most difficult years for the Palestinian working class amidst the ongoing Israeli aggression and deteriorating economic conditions, emphasizing that "there is no decent work under occupation, and there is no labor dignity under siege, colonization, and repression."

The union also warned against the continuation of the blockade policies and collective punishments practiced by the occupation authorities, and from the restrictions imposed on trade movement and mobility through more than 1205 military checkpoints and electronic gates, considering that they have paralyzed economic activity and weakened the resilience of Palestinian workers.

It pointed out that the agricultural sector has not been spared from targeting, with more than 20,390 olive trees uprooted and razed this year, in an environmental and economic crime threatening the livelihood of thousands of Palestinian families.

The union condemned the occupation government's announcement of its intention to establish a special security detention center for Palestinian workers, describing the step as the epitome of racism and a blatant violation of human rights and international agreements, especially in light of the absence of a social protection system and the lack of unemployment insurance.

The union indicated that 42 Palestinian workers have been martyred since October 2023, while more than 32,000 workers have been arrested, emphasizing that these violations constitute a systematic campaign of repression targeting the Palestinian working class and its right to a decent life.

In conclusion, the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions (PGFTU) called on the United Nations to dedicate international recognition of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state capable of enacting legislation that protects workers and guarantees their rights, and it sent a message of appreciation to the Arab and international labor unions and the International Labor Organization for their supportive solidarity positions with the struggle of Palestinian workers.