Labour news from the Middle East
Algeria
Over 1100 catering workers commence hunger strike 2013-06-04 [IUF] Oasis Towns Clamor for Jobs in Shadow of Al-Qaeda 2013-04-23 [Bloomberg]
First independent catering union launched in Algeria 2013-04-23 [IUF]
Bahrain
GCC Labor representatives hold talks with ILO in Geneva 2013-06-18 [BNA] NSW nurse unionist to speak at rally for Bahrain’s gaoled nurses and doctors 2013-06-14 [Nurse Uncut]
Ex-Bahrain Air staff threaten legal action over payouts 2013-06-14 [Arabian Business]
Egypt
Sumed employees hold a sit-in 2013-06-18 [Daily News Egypt] University staff protest reallocation of bonuses 2013-06-18 [Daily News Egypt]
EU representative criticises NGO draft law in Shura Council 2013-06-17 [Daily News Egypt]
Iran
Reading Marx in Tehran 2013-06-14 [The Times] Iranian youth struggle with unemployment 2013-06-13 [AJ]
Labour rights threatened 2013-06-11 [Global Post]
Iraq
IFJ Mourns Respected Iraqi Journalist Murdered in Baghdad 2013-06-11 [IFJ] Union leader’s court date (delayed again) scheduled for Monday June 3 2013-06-02 [Iraq Oil report]
VIDEO: Listen to Hassan Juma oil worker union leader whose trial starts tomorrow June 3 2013-06-02 [IndustriALL Global Union]
Israel
Ashdod Port union leader steps down after damaging report 2013-06-17 [Times of Israel] Ashdod Port workers leader defiant on allegations 2013-06-17 [Globes]
Ashdod Port workers c'ttee chairman takes leave 2013-06-17 [Globes]
Jordan
Textile workers reach agreement 2013-06-12 [Fibre2Fashion] Textile workers reach sectoral agreement in Jordan 2013-06-11 [IndustriALL Global Union]
Weathermen suspend strike; forecasts to public, aviation resumed 2013-06-03 [Jordan Times]
Kuwait
NUKLE to take part in int''l labor conference June 20 2013-06-01 [KUNA] Labor union seeks to enter politics 2013-05-26 [Kuwait Times]
Oil workers in Kuwait win after 4 day strike 2013-05-25 [IndustriALL Global Union]
Lebanon
CEO of Spinneys faces charges over workers rights 2013-06-07 [Arabian Business] CEO of Lebanon's Spinneys faces charges over workers rights 2013-06-06 [Arabian Business]
Three union leaders accuse Gvt of doing nothing to oppose sectarianism, civil strife and security chaos 2013-05-25 [Lebanon Daily Star]
Libya
Zeidan intervention stops Libyan Airlines’ strike 2013-06-02 [The Herald] Scores of Egyptian migrant workers deported from Libya for 'illegal entry' 2013-05-24 [Ahram Online]
Strike hits Libyan Airlines suspends bookings 2013-04-12 [Libya Herald]
Middle East
As trade unions illegal in many Arab nations regional retailers 'unlikely' to sign up to Bangladesh Accord says Global Union leader 2013-06-12 [Arabian Business] Gulf nations need to make strikes, unions legal for foreign workers: Activists 2013-06-07 [Reuters]
Worker rights issues pose a challenge to Gulf building boom 2013-06-06 [Reuters]
Morocco
Little Maids are the Big Victims 2013-06-17 [AlertNet] Different seasons of the Arab spring: reports from Morocco and Tunisia 2013-04-27 [Talking Union]
Thousands march as Morocco’s labour unions protest economic reforms by Islamist-led government 2013-04-01 [The Record]
Oman
Ministry of Manpower to intensify summer work hours inspection to book offenders 2013-05-22 [Gulf News] Muscat airport workers end safety strike 2013-03-14 [Gulf Daily News]
Muscat Airport construction shutdown after death of employee 2013-03-13 [Muscat Daily]
Palestine
West Bank lawyers union calls strike after police assault attorney 2013-06-14 [Ma'an News Agency] GUPW union slams Israeli companies after laborer dies 2013-06-14 [World Bulletin]
Exercise of freedom of association remains very difficult for most Palestinian workers, especially in Gaza says ITUC annual survey of trade union worker rights 2013-06-12 [ITUC]
Qatar
Journey towards labour reform begins in Qatar 2013-06-14 [Construction Week] Journey towards labour reform begins 2013-06-14 [Construction Week]
Winning bid to host 2022 football World Cup has done nothing to improve lot of workers reports ITUC annual survey of worker rights violations 2013-06-12 [ITUC]
Saudi Arabia
Indonesian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia 2013-06-13 [AJ] Enslaved in Saudi Arabia, 200 Indians cry for help 2013-06-09 [Times of India]
No qualms against women heading labor committee 2013-06-05 [MENA]
Tunisia
UGTT to host national congress against terrorism 2013-06-17 [Magharebua] Tunisia opposition threatens to sue Ennahda after ‘coup’ against national dialogue 2013-05-27 [Middle East Online]
Solidarity with Tunisian port workers facing anti union campaign 2013-05-25 [ITF]
United Arab Emirates
Worker rights issues pose a challenge to Gulf building boom 2013-06-06 [Dawn] Why the Dubai Strike Matters 2013-06-05 [Huffington Post]
Why the Dubai Strike Matters 2013-06-04 [In These Times]
Yemen
Kidnapped Red Cross workers released in Yemen 2013-05-16 [AJ] Yemenis reel from Saudi labour crackdown 2013-05-16 [AJ]
Workers honored, the backbone of the nation's economy 2013-05-03 [Yemen Times]
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