In an official complaint filed by the Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP) To the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and Focal Point on reprisals in Africa, Mr. Remi Ngoy LomboThe organization raised serious issues related to violations against independent unions and their leaders in Algeria.

The most prominent recorded violations:

  1. Targeting independent unions: These violations include prominent unions such as the National Union of Electricity and Gas Workers (SNATEGS), the National Union of Industrial Workers (SNSI), and the National Autonomous Union of Public Administration Employees (SNAPAP).
  2. Double standards in the application of laws: The letter pointed out that the new Law No. 23-02 on the exercise of the right to unionize is being exploited as a tool to restrict unions that communicate with international bodies, such as UN Special Rapporteurs.
  3. The impact of the law on trade union freedoms: The confederation asserted that the new law indirectly aims to isolate independent unions and undermine their role in defending workers' rights and communicating with international organizations.
  4. Restrictions on union leaders: Union leaders suffer arbitrary practices, including forced exile or the imposition of orders preventing them from leaving Algerian territory, known as “ISTN travel bans.”

Confederation positions

According to Mr. Raouf Mellal,, President of the Confederation, these practices constitute a serious threat to fundamental freedoms, including the right to organize and assemble peacefully. The letter addressed to Mr. Ngoy Lombo:

“The current situation of independent unions in Algeria is deeply worrying and requires urgent intervention from international bodies. We call on the Special Rapporteur to investigate these violations and take appropriate measures to ensure respect for union rights in Algeria.”

Confederation demands

At the end of the letter, the Confederation presented a set of demands, most notably:

Previous meeting with representatives of African international human rights organizations

It is worth noting that this lawsuit comes after a meeting between representatives of the Confederation and representatives of organized DefendDefenders International, which highlighted the escalating violations against independent unions and the means to file human rights lawsuits in Africa. This letter also expresses an urgent appeal to international bodies to intervene to stop the ongoing violations targeting the independent union movement in Algeria, given the complex political and human rights landscape in Algeria.

Source: Algeria - December 20, 2024


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The Confederation of Productive Forces Trade Unions issues an open letter to the President of the Algerian Republic.

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