According to “Ma’an News Agency”, the Palestinian Labour Minister, Maamoun Abu Shahla, discussed, last Wednesday an exploratory study of the relations and conditions of work in the economic sectors for women, entitled "Enhancing women's access to equal economic opportunities and decent work in Palestine" in a program implemented by the United Nations, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and funded by the Italian Cooperation for Development.
The meeting was attended by a delegation from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce.
The minister pointed out that the number of labour force in Palestine is about 1.3 million, of which 70% work either in the private sector, or in the public sector or within the Green Line, and 30% are unemployed due to the current economic situation and practices of the Zionist occupation. Abu Shahla added that the unemployment rate of women in “Al-Quds” reached 85%, while in the West Bank it amounted to 32.1% and 73% in the Gaza Strip.
The attendees stressed the need to accelerate in the amendment of some provisions of the Palestinian Labour Law, focusing on the specificity of granting women equal opportunities to work like men. Moreover, they stressed the supporting and empowerment of women economically through improving their working conditions, the need for legal provisions to force employers to commit to the minimum wage, and the provision of workers with the occupational safety, health and decent work conditions.
The participants stressed also the issue of decent work for women by focusing on the economic empowerment of women, which will contribute to the increasing of employment rates by building their capacities and rehabilitating them for the Palestinian labour market, as well as providing a safe working environment for women by amending laws and legislations related to the Labour Law.
The meeting studied the exploratory study, which helps to bridge gaps in the advancement of women's work by providing an executive plan with social partners that focuses on the importance of equality of work opportunities between men and women, the improvement of their work conditions, especially in the services sector, kindergartens, weaving, and beautification, in order to achieve economic growth through the adherence to the Palestinian labour law, to increase the productivity of the working women.
#unemployment # West_Bank #Gaza #women
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