Institute of Law Holds Lecture: "Legal Framework for Trade Unions in Palestine" - News
As part of BZU’s Legal Encounter Series, the Institute of
Law and the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at BZU held a lecture on 6
June 2011, entitled "Legal Framework for Trade Unions in Palestine"
to discuss the major obstacles responsible for the absence of a legal framework
governing unions in Palestine. The lecture was attended by the General Manager
of Directorate General for Employment Relations Mr. Bilal Thawabeh, along with Mr.
Hussein Fuqaha from the Palestine General Federation of Trade Union and Mr.
Mohammed Al-Arqawi of the General Union of Palestine Workers.
In his speech, Thawabeh stressed the legal vacuum in the trade
union regulation process in Palestine, referring to the Palestinian Labor Law
of 2000. This labor law replaced the Jordanian law which was used in Palestine,
and served as the legal framework for trade union regulation.
Fuqaha emphasized the Palestinian unions’ desire for a law to
regulate their work, while not limiting their freedom, since freedom and
pluralism are necessary for the success of union work. He added: "We are
concerned as a union with formulating a law for unions because everyone rejects
the law of the jungle. This does not mean, of course, that the labor movement would
be deprived of its independence. The law must cover a wide range of union
freedoms, as competition between the various unions strengthens performance and
excellence.”
In his speech, Thawabeh stressed the legal vacuum in the trade
union regulation process in Palestine, referring to the Palestinian Labor Law
of 2000. This labor law replaced the Jordanian law which was used in Palestine,
and served as the legal framework for trade union regulation.
Fuqaha emphasized the Palestinian unions’ desire for a law to
regulate their work, while not limiting their freedom, since freedom and
pluralism are necessary for the success of union work. He added: "We are
concerned as a union with formulating a law for unions because everyone rejects
the law of the jungle. This does not mean, of course, that the labor movement would
be deprived of its independence. The law must cover a wide range of union
freedoms, as competition between the various unions strengthens performance and
excellence.”
On the other hand, Arqawi noted various reasons that led to gaps
in union work, from the Palestinian situation to other factors such as
legislation and regulations. He also mentioned the inability to crystallize union
goals in an effective manner as well as the absence of a strategy to achieving
targeted objectives.
During the discussion, participants recognized
the need to earnestly work on developing a legal framework for Palestinian
unions, since such a framework plays a vital role at both the professional and
national levels. Further, reference was made to the importance of the BZU Institute
of Law’s study regarding regulation of union work in Palestine, developed in
cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Labor.
