Democracy and Workers' Rights Center

Democracy and Workers' Rights Center

The Democracy and Workers' Rights Center (DWRC) is a Palestinian non-governmental, non-profit organization, not affiliated with any political party. DWRC was established in 1993 by a group of trade unionists, lawyers, academics and political figures in Palestinian society to defend workers’ rights and promote social justice. Founders feature Hassan Barghouthi (General Secretary of the International Federation of Workers' Education Associations in Arab Countries)[1], and Ghassan Khatib (former Planning Minister and longtime journalist).[2] DWRC is centered in Ramallah with a branch office in Gaza City.

Significance

In 2000 the Palestinian President ratified the first Palestinian Labor Law. However, according to DWRC the Labor Law lacked teeth,[3][4] and DWRC lawyers and organizers acted to work with Palestinian Authority legal experts to introduce amendments; late in 2005, DWRC successfully achieved Palestinian Legislative Council acceptance of an alternative Palestinian Labor Law.[5]

Existing large-scale trade union federations in Palestine have long since ceased to be democratic according to a range of observers; the Fateh-dominated PGFTU has not had elections since 1981.[6][7][8] DWRC, as an independent NGO which is not itself a trade union, has been at the forefront of calling the PGFTU to account[9] within the Palestinian media as well as internationally, and has organized hundreds of democratic worker committees, pushing for a fully transparent Palestinian labor movement.[10][11]

In 2007, DWRC organized the Federation of Independent & Democratic Trade Unions & Workers' Committees in Palestine, launching the first large-scale conference of democratic, independent Palestinian trade unions in decades, representing more than 50,000 female and male workers.[12]

References

  1. ^ Labourstart news
  2. ^ Bitterlemons
  3. ^ Bilal Barghouthi."Study on Palestinian Labor Disputes and the Role of Courts" DWRC, 2007
  4. ^ "Palestinian Workers Claim Their Rights in Gaza Amidst Violence and Political Chaos"; AdvocacyNet News Bulletin 94, March 29, 2007
  5. ^ "On the Record - Palestinian Civil Society Under Siege"; A voice for the Voiceless, Volume 15, Issue 6: Breaking the Cycle of Dependency, June 27, 2001
  6. ^ Joost R. Hiltermann. "Mass Mobilization under Occupation: The Emerging Trade Union Movement in the West Bank"; MERIP Reports, No. 136/137, West Bank, Gaza, Israel: Marching toward Civil War (Oct. - Dec., 1985), pp. 26-31
  7. ^ Joost R. Hiltermann. "Behind the Intifada"; Princeton University Press (January 25, 1993)
  8. ^ Nina Sovich. "Stifling Democracy within Palestinian Unions"; Middle East Report, No. 215 (Summer, 2000), pp. 2-3
  9. ^ Nina Sovich. "Palestinian Trade Unions"; Journal of Palestine Studies," Vol. 29, No. 4 (Autumn, 2000), pp. 66-79
  10. ^ Sos Nissen."Anything but Workers in the Palestinian Trade Unions"; News from Within, April, 1996
  11. ^ "Palestinian Workers Claim Their Rights in Gaza Amidst Violence and Political Chaos"; AdvocacyNet News Bulletin 94, March 29, 2007
  12. ^ "Establishing Conference for the Coalition of Independent and Democratic Trade Unions & Workers' Committees in Palestine July 25, 2007"; Advocacynet, July 25, 2007

See also

Syndicalism.svg Organized labour portal

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