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University Organizes Workshop on Violations against Workers in Israel

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

In cooperation with Ministry of Labor, Faculty of Law at the Arab American University organized a workshop entitled “Violations against Workers in Israel” in order to brief students on the Israeli Labor Law and most prominent violations against workers.

From the workshop

Dean of the University Faculty of Law Dr. Basheer Daraghmeh, Director General of Employment at Ministry of Labor Rami Al-Mahdawi, Director of External Employment Abdel-Karim Mardawi, Director of Jenin Employment Yasser Bzour, Palestinian Workers in Israel File Manager Arafat Amro, Legal Department Director at “Worker’s Hotline” Khaled Al-Dukhi, legal researcher Fadi Al-Haj Yahya, and Faculty of Law members and students, all attended the workshop.

It started with a welcoming speech by the Dean of University Faculty of Law Dr. Basheer Daraghmeh. Stressing on the workshop importance as it addresses workers, a large sector of the community, calling students to benefit from it.

As for Director General of Employment at Ministry of Labor Rami Al-Mahdawi, he mentioned the annually rising unemployment rates in Palestine especially among new graduates. Pointing, the Palestinian Universities graduates at least 60 thousand students per annum while the market need is 16 thousand yearly. He wondered what to do to reduce these rates which need lots of efforts.

He called the Palestinian universities to develop new disciplines needed by the labor market. Expressing his happiness to have a social security law course in the Faculty of Law at the Arab American University, this is a needed specialization in the labor market.

Moreover mentioned the work of the Ministry of Labor Employment Department, saying its mission includes four pillars: launching awareness campaigns to open new disciplines in Palestinian universities, supporting micro-projects, trying to open horizons for working abroad and head to vocational and technical education. Pointing, it’s possible to help reducing unemployment rate in Palestine.

Legal Department Director at “Worker’s Hotline” Association Khaled Al-Dukhi talked about the Israeli labor law and the problems facing workers within the Green Line. Pointing, it’s a very good in relative to other countries enforced labor laws. He added every worker working inside the Green Line or inside settlements whether he has a work permit or not, he has rights and duties according to the Israeli labor law. Also, referred to the violations and mistakes the Palestinian worker do during working inside the Green Line, including.

Director of External Employment Abdel-Karim Mardawi said the Palestinian labor market can’t take the huge numbers of graduates. Stressing it’s important to find external markets to drop the unemployment rate in Palestine.  Pointing, the rate reached 29.9% in 2017 third quarter, the highest rate in 14 years and most recent in 2003. Explaining that the number of unemployed in West Bank and Gaza reached 413 thousand and unemployment rate for university graduates reached 38%.

Legal Researcher and Arab American University Master student Fadi Al-Haj Yahya discussed the importance of study and knowing the Israeli labor law details even if the lawyer is Palestinian working in Palestinian Authority territories. Moreover, he talked about the suffering workers face on their way to work, especially as they pass through the crossings-points that separate the West Bank lands and the 48 territories.