The Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP) warmly welcomes the conclusions adopted by the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association at its 357th Session in relation to Case No. 3434 concerning Algeria.

COSYFOP commends the Committee for its rigorous work, the relevance of its findings, and the sustained attention it has devoted over many years to violations of trade union rights and freedoms in Algeria. We extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Committee for their recommendations and for their commitment to promoting a solution based on dialogue, respect for freedom of association, and the effective implementation of the international labour conventions ratified by Algeria.

The Committee’s conclusions confirm the existence of a genuine deadlock regarding the situation of COSYFOP and make clear that no lasting solution can be achieved as long as administrative obstacles continue to prevent our confederation from fully exercising its legitimate rights. They also highlight the absence of concrete initiatives by the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue aimed at addressing the issues repeatedly raised by COSYFOP over many years, despite our organisation’s consistent readiness to participate in an open, constructive and unconditional dialogue.

Today, COSYFOP once again reaffirms, in good faith, its longstanding commitment to engaging in a calm, constructive and responsible dialogue with the Algerian authorities. Our mission remains the defence of workers and wage earners, the promotion of trade union freedoms, the protection of human rights, and the development of a social climate based on consultation, dialogue and mutual respect rather than confrontation and exclusion.

At the same time, we remain concerned that the information submitted by the government to ILO supervisory bodies continues to reflect a pattern of interference in the internal affairs of the trade union movement. In particular, we denounce the instrumentalisation of elderly and retired individuals who have had no involvement whatsoever in COSYFOP’s activities for several decades and who left the organisation as far back as the 1990s, in an attempt to challenge before the Committee on Freedom of Association the legitimacy of the confederation and its democratically elected leadership.

Such practices demonstrate that interference in trade union affairs now extends beyond the national level and reaches international oversight mechanisms themselves. By relying on individuals who have had no connection with COSYFOP for decades in order to challenge the legitimacy of its elected representatives before the Committee on Freedom of Association, the government itself provides further evidence of the persistence of such interference.

COSYFOP hopes that the Committee’s conclusions will finally pave the way for meaningful dialogue capable of overcoming the current deadlock and ensuring full respect for freedom of association in Algeria. Our confederation remains ready to contribute to any genuine effort aimed at building a true system of social partnership founded on respect for workers’ rights and democratic trade union freedoms.