Union: Turkey-based clothing, shoe companies violate Palestinian workers' rights

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Two Turkey-based companies violate the rights of employees in their Palestina branches, according to a statement by the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK).

LCW, a clothing company, and FLO, a footwear chain store, pay low salaries to their employees and force them to unpaid overtime work, DİSK Secretary-General Adnan Serdaroğlu said.

While the poverty line is 3,000 New Israeli Shekels in West Bank, LCW and FLO pay a salary of 2,000 shekels to their workers, Serdaroğlu noted, citing the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU).

"The companies have forced the workers for overtime work on holidays since November 2019 but have not paid overtime wages," she said.

"With the coronavirus outbreak, workers were first put on unpaid leave and then forced to resign by waiving their rights.

"According to unions in Palestine, LCW, FLO and the Palestinian Ammoun firm are usurping workers' rights by exploiting the extraordinary situation created by Covid-19. The usurpation of wages, indemnities and severance pay violates the economic rights and citizenship rights stated in the Palestinian Labor Law.

"Palestinian unions applied to the Palestinian Ministry of Labor and demanded that the rights be protected and unpaid wages be paid in accordance with the law."

She further said that they would stand with the Palestinian workers and will take the necessary steps at the International Labor Organization. (HA/VK)