Raouf Mellal: Trade Union Pluralism, Article 87 bis, and the Relationship Between Independent Unions and the International Trade Union Confederation
In an interview with Radio des sans voix, Raouf Mellal, President of the Trade Union Confederation of Productive Forces (COSYFOP), addressed three major challenges facing trade union work in Algeria today: the myth of official trade union pluralism and its impact on independent unions, the risks posed by Article 87 bis of the Penal Code, COSYFOP’s international action on this issue, and the troubled relationship between Algerian independent unions and the International Trade Union Confederation […]
The Arab Trade Union Confederation Places Algeria on the Long List of Countries Violating International Labour Standards
In a significant development during the Arab Trade Union Confederation’s meeting held on April 6, 2026—and notably without any participation from independent Algerian unions—Algeria was placed on the “long list” of countries with the most serious violations of international standards related to trade union freedoms. This designation reflects mounting regional and international concern over the deteriorating state of trade union rights in the country. It is based on an international report that captures an increasingly alarming reality on the ground […]
Ten Algerian Unionists Imprisoned: UGTA Silent, ITUC Siding with the Government
The imprisonment of 10 prominent union leaders from the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) has shaken the national scene, raising a wave of questions about the state of union freedoms, especially as it echoes a worrying scenario imposed on the railway workers' federation for the second time in a year. The case dates back to a spontaneous strike by railway workers on November 26, 2025, which brought train traffic to a standstill.