While the government is pleading for a reorganization of the unions, the latter are contesting two bills seeking to regulate union activity and the exercise of the right to strike
“The government wants to call into question the right to trade union activity and block the field of social struggles. Doctor Lyes Merabet, a hospital doctor for thirty years and a figure in the trade union struggle in Algeria – he is the president of the National Union of Public Health Practitioners (SNPSP) – has a hard time hiding his anger.
For the first time in many years, a coalition of public service unions organized a protest movement on February 28, which took place mainly in health establishments and public schools.
The strike was not widely followed, but the trade unionists above all wanted to organize a symbolic action in response to the government which, on the same day, presented two bills to the deputies.
The first text, relating to the exercise of trade union rights, provides in particular for a ban on pursuing a political career in parallel with trade union activity, requires that at least 30% of civil servants in the sector join a trade union so that it be recognized as “representative”, complicates international cooperation with other NGOs and limits the number of trade union mandates authorized to two per person.
The second text, relating to the right to strike, drastically limits the scope of recourse to strikes and extends the list of activities deemed “sensitive” to hospitals, where walkouts will no longer be authorized.
This new legal arsenal goes “in the direction of the reduction of freedoms”, denounces to Middle East Eye Lyes Merabet, alongside other unions.
The drafting of these laws “is in total contradiction” with the assertions of officials according to which the aim is to regulate trade union activities while respecting “the Constitution which guarantees” this activity in addition to the right to strike, adds the doctor .
“Lack of consultation”
He lists the reproaches made to these laws: “They promise great interference by the administration in the unions, reflect the desire [of this same administration] to limit the number of terms of office of trade unionists and, above all, a desire to prevent trade unionists to pursue a political career in violation of the Constitution. »
“These texts are a total violation of the conventions of the International Labor Office [ILO] signed by Algeria! “, also denounces to MEE Boualem Amoura, secretary general of the National Union of Education and Training Workers.
This point, linked to the accumulation of the two activities, trade union and political, aroused reactions, including among the deputies of the lower house of the Algerian Parliament, which does not however have many opponents of power.
“Maintaining this article, which prohibits trade unionists from engaging in politics, is dangerous: it will dry up trade union activity and the political struggle of militants”, points out Kamel Benkhelouf, deputy in Algiers for the El Bina party (Islamists, allies of the government), from MEE .
This is a “violation of the Constitution” and “ILO rules”, also insists Amine Mabrouki, deputy of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP, close to the Muslim Brotherhood), who intervened on March 4 during plenary debates.
In addition to these basic problems, the opponents of these two laws – which have not been updated since 1990 – point to the lack of consultation on the part of the government, which “did not consult the unions” before drafting projects, protests Boualem Amoura.
The latter recalls that the President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune had nevertheless promised to involve the social partners.
“We were invited to give our opinion once the project arrived on the desk of the Assembly”, nuance Lyes Merabet. But he points out that at that time, the deputies informed the unions that their observations “were not going to be taken into consideration because they [the deputies] could not contradict a project proposed by the government”.
“We are in the process of reorganization to restore strength and credibility to the unions” Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algerian President
Faced with criticism, the Algerian authorities are staying the course.
“The right to strike is guaranteed by the Constitution. If the unions want to protest, it is their right. […] However, it is inconceivable that a handful of people would meet in a room and create a union without any representativeness. We are in the process of reorganization to restore strength and credibility to the unions. A sector with three to four unions is quite logical. But reaching 34 [he mentions the education sector without naming it] is just unacceptable,” President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in an interview broadcast on February 26.
“No one can prevent an Algerian citizen from pursuing a political career on an individual basis even if he is a member of a union”, nuanced the Minister of Labor, Youcef Charfa, in his response to the deputies on Saturday March 4.
But the assurances of the authorities do not seem to satisfy many people.
Amendments that have no chance of succeeding
A petition signed by several personalities, including academics and journalists, notes that if the two texts are passed, they “will make it legally impossible to exercise the right to strike and the free exercise of trade union rights, which are already largely hampered by the practice of public authorities and employers for several years”.
The signatories demand “the withdrawal of these texts and the opening of negotiations with their representatives to draw up legal texts which strengthen social dialogue, improve the social situation of workers and broaden their democratic rights as well as those of the Algerian people as a whole. “.
“There is a universal principle that says laws should reinforce what has been achieved. However, these bills are a setback compared to what has existed for thirty years,” grumbles Amine Mabrouki.
“The strength of Algeria cannot exist without the presence of strong and independent trade unions”, continues his colleague Boubekeur Benalia.
Fifteen substantive amendments were tabled by some MEPs. But they have “virtually no chance of succeeding”, admits a parliamentary source to MEE.
Trade unionists, therefore, reserve the right to “plan other actions” in the future, warns Boualem Amoura. He also warns that the unions will seize international bodies, in particular the ILO, if their demands are not met by the government.
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