Equality

The Equality Forum is a labor platform dedicated to promoting workers’ rights and advancing social justice in the workplace.

The Forum empowers trade unionists from diverse sectors and backgrounds to discuss the challenges they face, exchange experiences and ideas, and explore ways to improve working conditions and protect the rights of all workers — ensuring that no one is left behind.

The Equality Forum works to raise awareness among all workers — without discrimination — on key issues such as fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and the right to freedom of association. It also provides support and assistance to workers confronting legal and administrative obstacles and fosters solidarity networks that strengthen workers’ collective power to claim and defend their rights.

Through workshops, seminars, and dialogue sessions, the Forum aims to empower workers, amplify their voices, and contribute to building a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

The Equality Forum’s Contribution to Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Equality Forum is committed to enhancing the contribution of the Arab trade union movement to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on key objectives related to labor rights and social justice, including:

1. Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth The Forum promotes decent working conditions and strengthens workers’ rights, supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and the creation of quality employment opportunities for all.

2. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities By advocating for workers’ rights and promoting equality in the workplace, the Forum helps reduce economic and social disparities among workers and advances justice and inclusivity.

3. Goal 5: Gender Equality The Equality Forum works to promote women’s rights in the workplace, contributing to gender equality and improving women’s access to decent work opportunities.

4. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being Through its focus on safe and healthy working environments, the Forum contributes to improving workers’ health and well-being, in line with efforts to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

5. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions The Forum seeks to promote social justice and human rights, thereby supporting the development of strong institutions and ensuring access to justice for all workers.

The Equality Forum: Leaving No Worker Behind

Guided by the principle of “leaving no one behind,” the Equality Forum and the broader labor movement undertake a series of initiatives to ensure the inclusivity of workers’ rights and achieve justice and equality for all, through:

1. Empowering Marginalized Workers The labor movement prioritizes the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups —including migrant workers, women, youth, and older workers — by delivering training programs, workshops, and awareness-raising initiatives aimed at equipping them to advocate for their rights.

2. Fostering Social Dialogue Promoting dialogue among workers, trade unions, employers, and governments is essential to ensuring all voices are heard and to developing inclusive solutions that address the specific needs of marginalized workers.

3. Providing Legal Support The labor movement must offer legal assistance to workers facing rights violations, especially those who may lack the resources or legal knowledge to defend themselves.

4. Education and Awareness-Raising Comprehensive awareness campaigns must be conducted to educate workers about their rights and the mechanisms available to claim them, ensuring outreach even to those with limited access to information.

5. Collaboration and Networking with Civil Society Organizations Partnerships with civil society organizations working on labor rights and human rights strengthen collective efforts to ensure that no one is left behind.

6. Developing Inclusive Policies The labor movement must work toward developing inclusive labor policies that address the needs of all workers, including those in informal sectors and those facing specific vulnerabilities.

7. Promoting Diversity and Inclusion The labor movement should reflect society’s diversity by ensuring that leadership structures and activities are inclusive of all groups and guaranteeing the representation of all workers.