Workers in occupied Arab territories face catastrophic situation: ILO Director-General Houngbo

GENEVA (ILO News) – The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo has called the situation in Gaza “particularly catastrophic” and highlighted the need to prepare for a job-rich restoration of infrastructure and services anchored in a commitment to providing decent work. This would not be possible however “without an end to the current war and the release of all hostages.”

Speaking at a Special Sitting on the Situation of Workers of the occupied Arab territories (OAT) held at the 112th International Labour Conference (ILC), Houngbo said, “This has been the hardest year for Palestinian workers since 1967. Never before has the situation been this bleak.”

The Director-General referenced a “loss of Palestinian civilian life on a scale never seen before in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” He also highlighted how the Gaza labour market, already stifled by 17 years of blockade, had largely been replaced by survival activities. Houngbo further noted that an estimated 200,000 jobs have been lost in Gaza since October 2023, which is the equivalent of more than two-thirds of total employment in the enclave.

“In the wake of the horrific Hamas-led atrocities against Israel and the ensuing relentless war waged by Israel, the labour market in Gaza has literally collapsed. Gaza is in ruins. Livelihoods are shattered and work is scarce. Labour rights have been decimated,” Houngbo said.

“Job creation and decent work need to be put at the centre of the rebuilding of infrastructure and services. In parallel, social protection initiatives will need to quickly be expanded. Social dialogue will be vital in planning and implementing measures for recovery and resilience. Labour rights must be upheld,” he said.

During the session the Director-General also highlighted the hardships facing workers in the occupied West Bank, where the economy is in deep crisis and the unemployment rate has more than doubled since October 2023, as well as challenges in the occupied Syrian Golan where increasing Israeli settlement activity reinforces a sense of unequal treatment of the Syrian citizens of the territory.

“I strongly believe that there is a way for Palestinian daily workers in Israel to resume their work. The conclusion of a prompt agreement authorizing such action could be a major step forward,” Houngbo said.

At its 350th Session (March 2024), the ILO Governing Body recommended that the Appendix to the Report of the Director-General on The situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories be discussed at a special sitting during the ILC. This marks the first time that the Conference has held a special sitting on the subject since 2003.

In response to the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the ILO has initiated a US$20 million Emergency Response Programme to mitigate the impact of the war on Palestinian workers and employers. It is currently supporting Palestinian workers from Gaza stranded in the West Bank and has launched an emergency employment scheme with the United Nations Development Programme to support those most affected in Gaza.
 

• A video news offer with coverage of the Special Sitting on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories is available to download on the ILO’s Video download platform