The Labour Inspectors’ Union of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) warned against the growing phenomenon of the illegal practices toward foreign workers in Tunisia and confirmed that the reports of inspections carried out in the reports of the labour inspection’s general directorate revealed many abuses in this regard.
The union stressed the need to find an approach based on the basic human rights, the international standards, conventions and charters related to the protection of the foreign workers and the promotion of the principle of equality and non-discrimination between the Tunisian and foreign workers, as well as their protection from exploitation, especially that Tunisia has become an important job market for the foreign non-competent labour force in sectors such as agriculture and construction. Moreover, it stressed the need to activate the requirements of Article 260 of the Labour Code, in addition to the need to strengthen the role of the labour inspectors in this area.
In this regard, the Labour Inspectors’ Union sent a letter to the Minister of Social Affairs revealing the inhuman and racist treatment and infringements on the dignity of foreign workers, stressing that these phenomena must be dealt with legally and humanely.
According to the union, Article 170 of the Labour Code stipulates that the labour inspectors must be aware of any shortage or violation that has not been subject to the legal provisions in force. Besides, the union asked the minister to find legal texts that go in line with the foreign workers’ basic rights. In fact, the foreign workers suffer from exploitation and forced labour, which sometimes could reach slavery.
The union called on the ministry to intervene to preserve the dignity of these workers through the enactment of laws, that would guarantee the minimum conditions for a decent work, before the celebration of the centennial of the International Labour Office.
#Labour_Inspectors_Union #Tunisia #racism #inhumane_treatment #foreign_workers
English 
العربية