Executive Summary
occupational health and safety standards and conditions as ICHR detected
18 deaths due to lack of occupational safety and health requirements in the
work sites; 7 of them were recorded in the West Bank and 11 in Gaza Strip.
In line with its vision to ensure the right to work, ICHR recommends that
the MOL should introduce measures and procedures to address the rising
unemployment rates, and to develop programs that target the youth, in
partnership with the private business sector. ICHR further recommends
adopting of an urgent plan in Gaza Strip to handle the widespread
unemployment. It also recommends that the MOL should adopt the
minimum wage, introduce mechanisms to ensure monitoring and followup, and adopt measures and procedures to punish any violating entity.
2.2.1 The Right to Social Security
ICHR received 14 complaints from citizens who represent prisoners,
injured persons, and martyrs, alleging they were arbitrarily denied access
to the funds prescribed thereto in accordance with the law. Most of the
complaints were received in the West Bank; where 10 complaints are
related to prisoners, 2 are related to injured persons, and 2 are related to
martyrs. In Gaza Strip, the families of the martyrs and injured persons who
are the victims of the Israel aggressions since 2014 are waiting to receive
their financial entitlements but in vain. Additionally, ICHR received a
complaint from a number of the prisoners who were set free under the
Shalit Deal who are considered to be members of Hamas. The complaint
was filed because their salaries, which are their only source of income,
were suspended suddenly, and no administrative or legal measures that
justify such suspension were adopted. ICHR followed up on this complaint
and addressed the related official agencies8 and President Mahmoud
Abbas, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of
the Palestine Liberation Organization and the President of the State of
Palestine, requesting to resume payment of the salaries of those prisoners
in fulfillment of their rights which are ensured pursuant to the Law No. 19
of 2004 concerning the Prisoners and Freed Prisoners.
8
ICHR addressed Dr. Rami Hamdallah, Prime Minister, Dr. Shukri Bishara, Minister of
Finance, Representative Azza al Ahmad, member of the Legislative Council, Dr. Kamal El
Sharafi, human rights adviser to Palestinian President, and General Majed Faraj, Chief of
Palestinian General Intelligence Service.
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR)
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