Palestinian Contractors Union: We Respect Engineers' Right to Take Legal and Unions Actions to Defend Their Occupational and Professional Rights

SadaNews - The Palestinian Contractors Union issued a statement regarding the union and legal actions announced by the Engineers Union.

The statement read as follows:

The Palestinian Contractors Union followed the announcement by the Engineers Union – Jerusalem Center to enter into an open strike demanding the rights of engineers working in the public sector and military engineers.

While the union confirms its full respect for the engineers' right to take legal and union actions to defend their occupational and professional rights, it emphasizes that the Palestinian engineer has been and will continue to be a fundamental partner in the national building and development process, and that safeguarding their rights is an integral part of the system of justice and fairness in state institutions.

At the same time, the union expresses its deep concern over the economic and technical repercussions resulting from the continuation of the open strike, due to the pivotal role engineers play in overseeing projects, approving assessments, and completing handover procedures, which are essential for the continuous execution of projects and the payment of financial entitlements to contractors.

The construction and contracting sector is one of the most important pillars of the national economy, providing job opportunities for thousands of engineers, technicians, and workers, and is linked to a wide network of national industries, suppliers, transportation, services, and financial companies. Any disruption in the technical and administrative work cycle directly affects the stoppage or delay of projects, leading to the delay in payments and exacerbating the liquidity crisis faced by national companies, threatening the ability of many to continue and meet their obligations to workers, suppliers, and financial institutions.

Moreover, the continuation of this situation puts projects funded by international and donor agencies at serious risk, which may include delays in funding or reevaluation of contractual obligations, negatively impacting the reputation of the Palestinian contractual environment and the confidence of international partners in the ability of national institutions to implement projects according to approved timelines.

The Palestinian Contractors Union confirms that contracting companies are going through an extremely difficult phase due to the accumulation of financial dues, rising material prices and operating costs, and the decrease in the volume of projects, in addition to the complex political and economic conditions, and the measures and practices imposed by Israel on our people which have burdened the national economy and weakened the resilience of various sectors.

In light of the national responsibility, the union calls upon the Palestinian government to initiate an urgent and serious national dialogue with the Engineers Union and all professional unions and economic frameworks to reach practical and balanced solutions that safeguard the legitimate rights of all parties, ensure the continuity of public service provision, execute vital projects, and mitigate the economic and social damages resulting from the continuation of the crisis.

The union also demands immediate and temporary arrangements to ensure the continuity of approving assessments, bills, and disbursing financial entitlements without disrupting vital projects, particularly those related to essential services or funded by international entities, in protection of the national economy and the interests of thousands of workers in this sector.

The Palestinian Contractors Union believes that this critical phase requires the highest levels of responsibility, cooperation, and integration among the government, unions, and the private sector, and that constructive dialogue is the best way to overcome the crisis with the least possible losses, safeguarding rights, preserving the public interest, and enhancing the resilience of our people and our national economy.