Palestine National Council (PNC) called on the International Labor Organization (ILO) and international trade unions and labor organizations to defend the rights of Palestinian workers, protect them from violations of the Israeli occupation authorities, and protect their rights in accordance with the International Covenants and ILO standards.
In a press release issued today, PNC praised the struggle of Palestine workers, their continuous sacrifices for the freedom of their people, and building the Palestinian economy, despite the suffering they are experiencing as a result of the continued occupation of their homeland. PNC congratulated the workers on the occasion of the International Labor Day.
The suffering of Palestine workers is mainly due to the continued occupation of the State of Palestine, PNC said, and depriving Palestine workers - like the rest of Palestinian people - from investing their natural resources and wealth, as well as the Israeli absolute control over external borders and preventing freedom of movement and internal movement, which failed the natural growth of Palestinian economy and creating sufficient job opportunities for Palestinians.
More than (453) thousand Palestinian workers were affected by the Coronavirus crisis, PNC added, stressing the necessity of obliging the Israeli occupation to halt its racist measures against Palestinian workers, and to hold Israel accountable for its crimes, including throwing and neglecting workers at the checkpoints, on suspicion of being infected with the Coronavirus, without any humanitarian deterrent or offering them any treatment.
PNC noted that Palestine workers are exposed daily to Israeli occupation violations of degrading, inhuman treatment, extortion, and withholding their financial dues, in a clear violation of the rules of international law, international agreements and human rights charters, which guarantee workers’ rights, dignity and humanity. PNC called for the activation of international labor law too.
PNC also called on the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian government to compensate workers who are affected by the measures imposed to combat Coronavirus, and implement the decisions of PNC related to developing of legislation and laws, which guarantee economic and social rights for the Palestinian working class, and promote union freedom.
PNC concluded the statement by affirming that the end of the suffering of the Palestinian people, in all its sectors and segments, will be by salvation from the Israeli occupation, self-determination and establishing Palestine independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.