ATUC condemns the arrest of Algerian unionists

ALGERIA— The Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) is following with great concern the news about Algerian security forces surrounding the premises of the Confédération Générale Autonome des Travailleurs en Algérie (CGATA), and the arrest of several trade unionists and activists who reported to the headquarters to take part in the confederation’s meeting designed to look into the draft amendment to the Constitution and the finance law for the year 2016.

In a statement it issued, ATUC said, it condemns such practices and urge the Algerian authorities to honor its commitments and pledges to the international conventions that guarantee the rights of trade unions to assembly and conduct their work and ensure the trade union rights which are part of the fundamental human rights and

ATUC also called on the Algerian authorities to take measures to guarantee these rights and ensuring justice, freedom, equality and democracy, especially that Algeria has ratified the International Labor Organization convention number (87) on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize.