Global trade unions file ILO complaint against Israel over unpaid wages

Evidence presented by the unions indicates that over 200,000 workers from Gaza and the West Bank have not been paid for work completed before October 7 and have received no wages since then. According to ILO estimates, the average daily wage for Palestinian workers with regular work permits was approximately $79. Informal economy workers earned between $565 and $700 weekly. For over a year, these workers have been unable to recover their outstanding wages or settle wage debts.

"On top of the brutal war in Gaza and increased violence in the West Bank, Palestinian migrant workers are being stripped of their ability to work and robbed of millions in wages they’ve rightfully earned," said UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman. "The Israeli government’s breach of ILO Convention 95 on the Protection of Wages has put hundreds of thousands of families on the brink of economic devastation."

The complaint was signed by organizations including Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), Education International (EI), IndustriALL Global Union, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), International Union of Food Workers (IUF), Public Services International (PSI), Trade Union Advisory Committee to OECD (TUAC), and UNI Global Union.

Luc Triangle, General Secretary of ITUC stated: "When I visited the West Bank earlier this year, I witnessed economic destitution experienced by families of Palestinian workers employed in Israel."

BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson added: "International law is clear: no crisis can justify suspension of labor rights or denial of justice to workers."

ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton emphasized: "Israel must comply with its international legal obligations."

PSI General Secretary Daniel Bertossa remarked: "The withholding of wages is just another indignity faced by Palestinian workers under occupation."

Education International General Secretary David Edwards called for an immediate ceasefire: "Educators around the world renew our call for an immediate ceasefire."

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie concluded: "This is why we are joining ITUC and other GUFs in filing this complaint."

For media inquiries or further information, please contact ITUC press office at press@ituc-csi.org or BWI at info@bwint.org