DWRC implements social dialogue sessions to improve women’s access to decent jobs
Gaza – On 8/08/2024, the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center held a workshop at PNGO office in central Gaza to discuss a field study on “Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work, and the Effects of Israel’s War on Women’s Exposure to Violence & Harassment in the Gaza Strip since October 2023″ conducted by researcher Louay Joudeh for DWRC. The workshop was attended by 35 participants in presence and online. The field study was conducted with two different samples to capture the situation in workplaces in the Gaza Strip before the start of the war, and the various forms of violence to which women have been exposed since October 7, 2023. The first sample included 203 women in employment before the war in the public sector, the private and non-governmental organizations’ sector, UNRWA, women business owners, self-employed women, and those working in family businesses without financial compensation. The second sample included 200 women, who had been in employment before the war or without employment. Both samples included women with disabilities. The researcher also conducted interviews and focus group meetings to complement the quantitative data.
The study findings indicated that 56.2% of the sample of women in employment before the war experienced violence from a work supervisor or a colleague or another person in the framework of their work before the war. The most common forms of violence women were exposed to were verbal violence (47.4%), followed by economic violence (30.7%) and electronic violence (17.5%), while 4.4% indicated that they were subjected to physical violence. More than half of working women in this sample (64%) said that there are deterrent policies against perpetrators of violence and harassment in the workplace, and 60.8% of them that they are implemented with well-studied and deterrent mechanisms. 30.5% of surveyed working women do not have psychological, physical, material and electronic well-being, organized offices, separate bathrooms and privacy in the workplace. 62.5% of workers surveyed lost their jobs due to the war and its effects, and 81.5% said they have not received any cash assistance and have not participated in livelihood programs during the war. 83.8% of the women workers in the sample used to earn less than the Palestinian minimum wage of 1880 shekels per month.
93% of the women in the second study sample have been displaced. The vast majority have obtained no services: 80.5% said they received no health services or women hygiene products (none said they do not need them), 91% that they obtained no psychological support services, and 83.5% that they received no legal services. 78% declared there are no safe spaces for women where they have been displaced. 64% of the women surveyed have been exposed to violence in shelters, workplaces, and when receiving aid and other services since the start of the war on Gaza. Half of them experienced verbal violence, 35.8% economic violence, 8.8% physical violence and harassment, and 5.4% electronic violence. Most of them have been subjected to this violence continuously (70.3%). 62% said there were no mechanisms to submit complaints against perpetrators of violence, and 26% said they did not know if there were any such mechanisms. Only 11.7% have submitted complaints against perpetrators of violence and/or harassment, and less than half were satisfied with the outcome (40%). 85.5% of women feel uncomfortable (psychologically, physically, and financially) and face the lack of a sufficient number of separate bathrooms and privacy, where they have been displaced. 93.5% said there is an insufficient number of bathrooms and 72% that there were no specific bathrooms for women.
Findings also indicated that 75.5% of the women surveyed in the second study sample have been exposed to violence by the Israeli occupying power since the war has started. Women were exposed to multiple forms of violence; 95.3% had their homes destroyed, 62.3% lost children and relatives, 62.3% lost their jobs, 49.7% were subjected to ill-treatment by the Israeli occupation, 35.9% were injured, 14.6% were exposed to other forms of violence (psychological violence due to communications from the Israeli occupation, physical violence, deprivation from medical care and food), and 13.2% were detained.
A first set of recommendations concerns steps needed to improve women’s situation in the world of work and address violence and harassment. Such steps include activating workplace policies and holding perpetrators of violence accountable, having effective complaints mechanisms, and ensuring the implementation of the minimum wage in the Gaza Strip. All women, who have lost their jobs or means of earning an income due to the war, should be financially compensated for the loss of their source of livelihood to ensure their right to live in dignity. A second set of recommendations concerns steps for protecting women from heightened levels of violence since the war started; these include intensifying efforts to ensure that women have access to basic services and amenities, developing protection mechanisms and encouraging women to lodge complaints. The study also mentioned the importance of filing complaints at the international level against the Israeli occupying power, which has perpetrated multiple forms of violence against Palestinian women, and seeking compensation for the victims.
This study is part of the project for “Contributing to Gender Justice and Women’s Human Rights in the Middle East” implemented in partnership with Fundació Pau i Solidaritat – CCOO Catalunya and funded by the Government of Catalonia and the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation.
An initiative to support women who lost their jobs and projects as a result to the ongoing war on Gaza
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implemented a community initiative to mitigate the effects of the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and the difficult economic situation. Aiming to spread the spirit of cooperation and positivity among women who lost their jobs in cooperatives and small businesses, 6 women were employed in making Eid cakes for three days. These women prepared 180 Kilos of cakes and distributed them to the families of displaced members of cooperatives and associations in Deir al-Balah, and the Zawaida are. Such intervention is important especially in the shadow of the hard situation as a result to the war and the high prices.
Fathieh Abu Amrah, the owner of Al Amal Unit for food manufacturing said: “this initiative revived our work that we couldn’t do for more than 6 months, and contributed to restoring our strength to work”. She added: “such initiatives help women economically and provide families with their needs that they cannot fulfill”.Eman Kali, was feeling positive as a result to this initiative, and said: “this initiative added joy to the lives of displaced families who were unable to make nor buy Eid cakes due to the high prices and the lack of Gas. I hope such initiatives would continue in the future to support our work”.
This initiative comes within the framework of DWRC’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the ongoing war on Gaza, and the difficult economic conditions, with support from donations gathered by the Olof Palme International Center in Sweden to support its partner organizations.
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implements a workshop to discuss occupational safety and health at work
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implemented on 28/08/2023, a workshop in Ramallah to discuss issues related to occupational safety and health with the participation of 18 union representatives. During the workshop participants discussed conditions and mechanisms to achieve a safe work environment, and ensured the important role of trade union representatives in negotiating with employers to provide OSH tolls and equipment to workers in different work sectors. Participants also discussed the importance of forming OSH committees at work and the need to play a role in monitoring the application of safety procedures at work. They recommended the need to highlight violations related to OSH at work, and the provision of tools and equipment, improve communication with relevant bodies, and conducting dialogue with employers about the need to provide insurance against work injuries to workers.
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implements social dialogue sessions to improve women’s access to decent jobs
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implemented four social dialogue sessions in Beit Hanoun, Khan Younis, Rafah, and the Middle governorate aiming to improve women’s access to decent jobs. The sessions were attended by representatives of labor offices, municipalities, Civil Society Organizations, unions, and cooperatives.
During the session violations that women are exposed to in the labor market were highlighted including violence, discrimination, and harassment at work that form a real obstacle when it comes to achieving decent jobs for women. Participants stressed the importance of joining efforts to enhance cooperation between various stakeholders to achieve effective progress in enhancing women’s participation in the labor market, and removing barriers that stands in the way of achieving equality at work.
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implements a training course about leadership skills for trade unions
DWRC concluded a three-days training course focusing on building the leadership skills for unionists in Ramallah on 09/09/2023.
The training course focused mechanisms of establishing trade unions, internal regulations, accountability, the role of the administrative bodies within trade unions, women’s role in trade union action, elections in trade unions, and decision making.
Participants also had the chance to discuss amendments required on related Palestinian laws in terms of protecting the right to organize and trade union action.
The Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center implements social dialogue sessions to improve women’s access to decent jobs
DWRC implemented four social dialogue sessions in Beit Hanoun, Khan Younis, Rafah, and the Middle governorate aiming to improve women’s access to decent jobs. During the session violations that women are exposed to in the labor market were highlighted including violence, discrimination, and harassment at work. Participants stressed the importance of joining efforts to enhance cooperation between various stakeholders to achieve effective progress in enhancing women’s participation in the labor market, and removing barriers that stands in the way of achieving equality at work.
Representatives of civil society organizations and trade unions recommended establishing specialized and effective labor courts
They also called upon the Ministry of Labor to provide vocational training centers with a diversity of specializations, and facilitate young women’s access to these centers, in order to contribute to reducing focus on traditional specializations that push graduates towards unemployment. These recommendations were issued during a seminar on employment policies and decent work, implemented yesterday in Nablus by DWRC through the project: “Gender Equality in the Economic Sphere: Our Right, Our priority”, implemented in cooperation with PWWSD, COSPE and EducAid, and funded by the European Union and PSAC – Social Justice Fund.
The Democracy & Workers’ Rights Center implements a two-days training course about the right to organize and union leadership on 19/02/2023
The trainin course addressed the right to organize and union leadership in Ramallah, with the participation of 13 newly elected unionists from Workers’ Union in Qalqilia Municipality, Workers’ Union in Betunia Municipality, Farmers’ Union, Secretary Workers’ Union, Kindergarten Workers’ Union, Postal Services Workers’ Union, Food and Industries Workers’ Union, and the Federation of New Unions. Through its activities, the course focused practical training and discussions on trade union organization, the importance of union foundation and structure, leadership tasks, planning, trade union meetings, and decision-making.