The secretary-general of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, Chahar Saad, met with the Minister of National Economy last Thursday. This meeting was dedicated to the revision of the national support plan for local products which aims to encourage local production and increase its market share.
This meeting is part of the measures taken by the two parties to put in place a strategy to strengthen the productive base of the national economy by doubling its share in the local market. This strategy will increase employment opportunities and growth rates.
Following this meeting, Chahar Saad announced that the General Federation has decided to finance this campaign so that local Palestinian products can compete with Zionist products while respecting the quality standards that open the doors of the international market. Saad stressed that, to achieve these goals, it is imperative to launch a major awareness campaign that highlights the benefits of local products that have seen great progress in the past decade.
The secretary-general of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions explained that, in return, the government is called upon to protect the national product, above all from competition from black market products; products which cannot easily compete, which means that customs tariffs for foreign products must be revised.
Chahar Saad stressed that the revision of customs tariffs will encourage local products and allow new employment opportunities which will limit unemployment and poverty. To do this, Saad called for an effective partnership between the productive forces of Palestinian society; a partnership which must be based on respect for workers, such as fair wages, standards of occupational safety and security, and the right to strike and collective bargaining.
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