President’s Message

Address by the President of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP)

رئيس الكنفدرالية رؤوف ملال

Raouf Mellal,

President of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP)

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of myself and the National Executive of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP), I address you today at a critical moment for our nation — a moment that demands clarity of vision, firmness of principle, and the courage to act.

Algeria is facing an unprecedented economic and social crisis: soaring unemployment, a dramatic collapse in purchasing power, and the systematic marginalization of workers’ voices. In this context, COSYFOP continues its relentless struggle for: Social justice, freedom of trade union activity, and respect for the fundamental rights of workers, both male and female..

We reject token unions that serve the authorities, and we strongly urge all workers—women and men alike—to join free and independent trade unions.

We strongly urge all workers—women and men alike—to join free and independent trade unions that genuinely represent their demands and defend their interests. Only independent trade union organisation can secure fair contracts, decent wages, and humane working conditions.

But our struggle does not stop at national borders. COSYFOP is also actively engaged on the international stage, building bridges of solidarity with progressive trade union movements across Africa and around the world. We firmly believe that: Our case is not isolatedthe fight for workers’ dignity is a shared struggle — one that demands coordination, solidarity, and collective action that transcends borders.

We place strategic importance on our cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), which we regard as a key partner in the struggle to enforce respect for international conventions guaranteeing freedom of trade union organization in Algeria. We will continue to expose violations, document repression, and advocate on behalf of those whose voices are silenced — until the voice of the Algerian worker is heard in every forum, both national and international.

Comrades, this is not a moment for celebration — it is a moment for resistance. And resistance does not mean protest alone; it means building, creating, and persevering. The struggle ahead is long, but we possess the moral strength and organizational will to carry it through — and to prevail.

Let us remain united, in solidarity, and steadfast in our commitment to workers’ dignity — to their right to organize freely, and to a just future free from patronage and repression.

With deepest respect and unwavering trust,

Raouf Mellal,President of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP)

An Introductory Video About COSYFOP President Raouf Mellal

In this short video, discover key moments from the trade union and activist journey of COSYFOP President Raouf Mellal, and his role in defending trade union freedoms and workers’ rights in Algeria.