The Palestinian Vision Organization organized a dialogue session as part of the “Atad” project, funded by the Finnish Representative Office. The session was attended by Her Excellency Dr. Enas Attari, Minister of Labor, alongside a group of youth from the governorates of Jerusalem, Nablus, and Salfit. The minister began by outlining the key responsibilities of the Ministry of Labor.
Dr. Attari started by explaining the registration process for the Palestinian Employment Fund, highlighting the categories eligible for its services. She also discussed the ministry’s monitoring procedures to ensure employers comply with the minimum wage requirements, emphasizing the continuous inspection campaigns carried out by labor inspectors across the West Bank. Additionally, she addressed the process of submitting complaints and the ministry’s approach to handling workers’ rights violations.
Her Excellency underscored the importance of awareness campaigns, such as the one implemented by the Palestinian Vision Organization, in educating women about their labor rights. She pointed out a recurring issue where female workers are required to sign contracts stating a salary of 1,880 shekels, while in reality, they receive significantly lower wages.
The session featured an interactive discussion between the minister, labor inspectors, and participants, with several questions raised regarding the enforcement of the Palestinian labor law’s minimum wage regulations. Dr. Attari clarified that the minimum wage was determined based on economic studies and recommendations from the Wages Committee. She emphasized that non-compliant employers face hefty fines and are obligated to pay wage discrepancies, with repeated violations potentially leading to legal action.
Regarding verbal contracts, which are legally recognized but weaken workers’ legal standing, the minister stressed that the ministry encourages written contracts to ensure labor rights protection.
At the conclusion of the session, Dr. Attari reaffirmed the importance of strengthening awareness campaigns and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to developing additional measures to ensure the enforcement of the minimum wage and the protection of workers’ rights.
