Hamza Khalifa_ Palestine Economy Portal.

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Trade Union Federation, Shaher Saad, told "Palestine Economy Portal" that the workers class in Palestine is one of the classes most affected by the Coronavirus, due to the lack of laws and legislations that protect workers, such as the Social Protection Law, whose absence led to an increase in harm to them. Their losses came more than workers in other countries in relation to population and national income.

He continued: "From last March until this month, we find that most workers did not get more than 25 percent of their income, which caused an economic crisis for most of the working class, and nearly 80,000 workers lost their jobs due to the pandemic."

Saad explained that an agreement was signed between the trade unions, the government and the private sector on March 16, and this agreement stipulates that the private sector is obligated to pay a salary for a period of two months (March and April) to workers and employees. For companies that were not able to pay the full salary, it was agreed that a part of the salary will be paid while the other part is discharged later.

Regarding the percentage of companies that abided by this agreement, Saad stressed that less than 25% of companies have committed themselves, and about 35% of companies have partially committed, i.e. committed to paying salaries for a month or a month and a half, and nearly 40% have not committed at all to the agreement.

Regarding the government's performance during the pandemic, Saad said that it resorted to Article 35 of the Palestinian Labour Law due to the lack of a social protection law, and this article was interpreted positively, which was reflected in the agreement that was concluded with the private sector. About a month ago, the Minister of Labour issued A decision to clarify the agreement that was signed that requires the private sector to pay the salaries of those months and prevent unfair dismissal of workers.

Saad concluded his speech: “What we are asking for is the enactment of laws for social protection for workers, especially unemployed workers, and supporting them financially, healthily and educationally, so that the worker does not become a beggar.”