Algeria – The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) condemned court’s decision to convict in absentia Raouf Mellal the head of Electricity and Gas Workers Union affiliated to ITCU. In December he was sentenced in absentia to six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 Algerian dinars for exposing a corruption in National Electricity and Gas Company as they have been raising electricity bills on people over a period of ten years. The Union said in a statement: We strongly condemn these false allegations. We strongly urge the Algerian government to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Malal in connection with his union activity,” calling on all Arab unions to express their solidarity with Malal by sending letters to the Algerian embassy in the Arab countries. Arab Trade Union Confederation encouraged further action that would expose what Malal have been through and increase pressure on the government to address the matter before the court session on 11 May 2017
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