On the occasion of May Day 2026, the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine extends its comradely solidarity greetings to workers worldwide and its sisters and brothers of the labor movement and all progressive forces, particularly those most affected by imperialistic wars of aggression and short-sighted lawless politics driven by greed. The circle of those affected has expanded exponentially, as workers continue to be forcibly displaced, robbed of their livelihoods and the opportunity to earn a living in dignity, not just in Palestine and Lebanon, but across all regions and continents. At the same time, fundamental rights and freedoms everywhere are under attack, amidst utter disregard for the most basic dispositions of international humanitarian and human rights law that should protect us all. On this day, we renew our pledge to continue fighting for democracy, peace and justice, and decent work for all, working hand in hand with partner unions and organizations, and friends all over.
In Palestine, Israeli occupation policies and measures, and daily systemic violence, have transformed workers’ attempts to realize their right to work into a daily battle for survival. Gaza workers are still waiting for early recovery measures and programs to start, amidst an overall destruction rate of over 80% of all infrastructure, including economic establishments and workplaces. In the West Bank, the prolonged crisis is no longer limited to widespread unemployment, but is characterized by growing restrictions on access to work and further eroding of wages.
Data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicates the depth of the prolonged crisis facing the Palestinian labor market. 74% of pre-war jobs have been lost in the Gaza Strip. The overall unemployment rate in occupied Palestine reached about 46% in 2025, 28% in the West Bank and 68% in the Gaza Strip, while the number of unemployed persons exceeded 650,000. In the West Bank, the Israeli occupying power has continued severely restricting the issuance work permits to Palestinian workers, with only 51,000 workers (of them 14,000 work permit holders) employed in the Israeli labor market until the end of 2025, leaving tens of thousands of workers and their families without income.
This crisis is further exacerbated among most vulnerable groups, as young people face great difficulty entering the labor market, with unemployment rates rising to about 43% in the West Bank. Palestinian women’s participation in the labor market, with about 19% of women of working age inside the labor force, compared to 70% of men, also remains one of the lowest in the world, with the current circumstances of insecurity and job scarcity further jeopardizing their access to work.
Israel’s illegal withholding of clearance revenues that should be paid to the Palestinian Authority, which constitute about 60% of the Palestinian Authority’s revenues and are estimated at about 4.5 billion US$, has caused the authority to be nearly insolvent, and salary arrears to its employees have accumulated. At best, employees are paid 50% to 70% of their monthly salary, when some funds can be mobilized, and all new recruitment has been frozen since 2024. This affects women and persons with disabilities disproportionally, as the Palestinian civil public service is a major employer for them. According to indicators issued by the Palestinian Monetary Authority, many employees also rely on prior loans. While installments for repaying these loans have been adapted and rescheduled, they are deducted directly from their partial salary and most employees have little left to cover their basic needs.
With the severe deterioration of economic conditions and the lack of job opportunities, an increasing number of workers are resorting to informal work in the absence of stable employment opportunities. 60% of those employed in the West Bank are in informal employment. About 15% of wage workers (the percentage is higher among women workers) are still earning less than the minimum wage of 1,880 shekels per month, while prices have been rising and many are now unable to afford transportation to and from work. The challenges faced by Palestinian workers under Israeli occupation, from destroyed businesses and farms, restricted access to workplaces, loss of job opportunities, and shrinking salaries, to the expansion of informal work and weak legal protections, constitute a direct violation of their fundamental right to decent work. This year, Gaza female and male workers, unionists and journalists have come together to demand protection and jobs, during a joint event organized by DWRC, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and labor unions. More than ever, we need stronger international solidarity and advocacy to end impunity and ensure abidance with international law, and develop protections for human rights in general and workers’ rights in particular. We also call on the international community to fulfill its obligations under international conventions, and hold all those committing violations of the UN charter and human rights accountable for their acts, regardless of the perpetrators.
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