Amman, April 7 – The Arab Preparatory Conference for Trade Unions began Monday in Amman, in preparation for the 113th session of the International Labor Organization's annual conference, which will be held next June in Geneva.
The conference, organized by the Arab Trade Union Confederation with the participation of members of Arab trade unions, aims to network with Arab governments and friendly countries and coordinate a unified Arab position to vote for the admission of the sisterly State of Palestine to the International Labor Organization as an observer member.
Representing Senate President Faisal Al-Fayez, Chairman of the Labor and Development Committee, Senator Issa Murad, said in his opening remarks that the conference coincides with major challenges facing the region in social, economic, political, and security aspects.
He added that the most dangerous of these challenges is the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, at a time when international legitimacy and the United Nations have failed to stop the massacres and war crimes being committed, and have limited themselves to condemnation and denunciation.
He explained that the impact of security and political conflicts increases unemployment and poverty rates, impacts the daily lives of Arab citizens, and leads to a decline in economic growth and production in many countries, negatively impacting workers in economic establishments.
Murad emphasized the importance of holding an Arab Economic Summit, attended by parliamentarians, economic experts, businessmen, and representatives of chambers of commerce and industry, labor unions and organizations, with the aim of establishing an Arab economic union similar to the European Union and Chinese experience.
For his part, Khaled Fanatseh, President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, affirmed his full support for Palestine's membership in the organization, noting that labor unions play a pivotal role in defending workers' rights and improving their working conditions by strengthening their legal capabilities and adhering to international labor standards.
He pointed to the challenges facing workers, including low wages and a lack of social protection, emphasizing that women bear the brunt of unpaid care work in the Arab region, which, he said, hinders their participation in the labor market.
For his part, Shaher Saad, President of the Arab Trade Union Confederation, emphasized the importance of joint Arab action to support Palestine as an observer member in light of Israeli violations of Palestinian workers' rights.
Hind Bin Ammar, Executive Secretary of the Arab Trade Union Confederation, stated that there are approximately 280 million workers across 161 countries worldwide who hope to achieve social justice and strengthen the role of unions in preserving their rights and gains, noting the unique developmental characteristics of the Arab region.
She added that strengthening workers' capacities through support for occupational health and safety is a legitimate and deserved demand for all workers worldwide, and an essential step in building societies with sustainable development.
The opening session of the conference was attended by members of the Senate Labor and Development Committee, Mustafa Al-Bazay'a, Sharhabil Madi, and Nasima Al-Fakhri, as well as a select group of union members from Arab and foreign countries.
It is worth noting that the conference includes two-day discussion sessions and concludes tomorrow, Tuesday, with an evaluation and recommendations session.