Ramallah - The Democracy and Workers' Rights Center concluded a training course on November 19th, 2009, on the "National Budget Analysis and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights" as part of an EU-funded project for protecting trade union rights and uniting efforts to influence socio-economic policies.
The three-day training course, held in the Ali Baba Hotel in Ramallah, was attended by 18 men and women representing the Health Services Employees' Union, Governmental Employees Union, South Electricity Company Union, Financial Sector Employees' Union, Common Services Council in Tulkarem, Tourism Workers' Association, State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau and the Federation of Unemployed Young Graduates.
EU funding has enabled DWRC to hold such a course for the first time in the West Bank, using DWRC's own trainers. The course aimed to give union activists the knowledge and tools to elaborate a position on the Palestinian Authority National Budget, and influence policies related to the National Budget in order to serve the interests of the trade unions representing various economic sectors at the national level. It empowered them to promote the establishment of National Budgets based on need, and taking into account the cost of economic, social and cultural rights, and in particular the rights to work, health, education, water, and housing.
Achieving their right to decent work, which is one of the main goals of trade unions, requires a PNA Budget conducive to job creation while providing adequate social protection for Palestinians. Thus, this course responds to the need for unions to play a leading role in the elaboration stages of the Palestinian National Authority Budget.
Bassam Maqalda, treasurer of the Public Health Services Employees' Union, developed his knowledge on how to analyze the budget and use it in bargaining for his rights.
Sana Khalaf's goal in attending the course was to understand how to the budget can positively influence economic, social and political rights. She learned that adequate budgeting contributes to good governance.
Burhan Daraghmeh, from the Health Services Union in Nablus, wanted to gain knowledge of the budget and its components, and how to elaborate a budget that enables unionists to plan and strategize, and develop trade union work in Palestine. He says that the course helped him analyze the figures in the governmental budget, and transform these figures into information that can support union demands.
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For further information please contact:
Democracy and Workers' Rights Center-Gaza branch, Dr. Hamdi Al-Khawaja,
Telephone: 02-2952608
