Ramallah – On May 18th, a group of researchers, specialists and ministry representatives from the West Bank and Gaza Strip discussed the methodology of a study entitled "the situation of cleaning workers in local councils and municipalities" that intends to highlight work conditions and labor rights violations that cleaning workers are exposed to. The workshop was held in DWRC’s headquarters in Ramallah and Gaza via video conference.
The workshop was attended by researchers from the Ministries of Labor, Local Governments, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, DWRC, Ramallah, Al-Bireh and Betunia municipalities, Dr. Ahmad Jodeh, an expert in occupational health and safety issues from Gaza, and representatives of the Gaza, Jabalia, Big Absan, Um Al-Naser and Al-Musadar municipalities. It allowed presenting the proposed outline of the study on cleaning workers in local councils and muncipalities, aiming at identifying the characteristics of this category of workers, their work conditions - particularly issues related to occupational health and safety-, strengthening research efforts on workers’ rights violations to provide decision-makers with types and levels of violations that occurs in work sites and make recommendations to enable necessary decisions to be taken, as well as the adoption of appropriate work mechanisms.
In the opening, Dr. Hamdi Al-Khawaja from DWRC talked about the studies conducted by DWRC on various labor sectors, and clarified that this study is part of a project that targets the sanitary section in municipalities and local councils. He also indicated that DWRC usually forms advisory committees for each study it prepares, hoping that this study will have a significant impact on the situation of workers.
Participants discussed the most important issues and risks that workers of this sector face, from health risks to diseases and mechanical risks they might face when dealing with waste disposal vehicles. Moreover, they gave their comments on the study proposal, providing several suggestions that might help in enhancing the study and enabling it to fulfill its objective.
Participants from the Gaza Strip talked about the social, psychological problems and health risks faced by workers in this sector, such as lack of consideration, being marginalized or excluded from career advancement and professional benefits granted to other municipal workers - getting promoted, having a chance to participate in courses, capacity-building, being included in the employees classification’s system and various other rights. They emphasized that in most municipalities, solid waste workers are denied basic rights, to an extent that the majority of these workers are unable to take vacations and leaves guaranteed by laws and norms.