Middle East & North Africa Observatory

The observatory aims to monitor the development of the trade union movement in the Middle East and North Africa with a focus on trade union rights. There are millions of internet users in the Middle East, but it can often be difficult for users to find news about trade union rights. The Observatory gathers and publishes information about demonstrations, strikes and other labour protests taking place in the region. The ambition is to increase knowledge and awareness among workers by making the information available on the internet.

Algerian women claw their way into parliament

17 May 2012
ALGIERS — Algeria’s legislative election saw women take almost a third of the seats, making the national assembly the most gender-balanced in the region but activists say the battle is far from (...)
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Belgian halts hunger strike in Dubai

16 May 2012
A Belgian man has agreed to halt his hunger strike, after United Arab Emirates authorities promised that they would reconsider his case. Oliver Loeb, a 51-year-old Belgian businessman, is (...)
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Egyptian court issues surprise ruling to suspend presidential elections

11 May 2012
An Egyptian administrative court issued an unexpected ruling on Wednesday to suspend the presidential election due later this month, judicial officials announced. Courts in the Nile Delta (...)
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Union warns workers’ rights at risk in Qatar

7 May 2012
The International Trade Union Confederation has called for an urgent meeting with Qatari Labour Minister after reports emerged the Qatari authorities plan to establish trade unions in the Gulf (...)
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Latest News

Syrian women risk lives to aid dissidents

05|05|2012 - When the aspirin and alcohol swabs fell from under her clothes at a Syrian army checkpoint, Rania stood petrified, looking first down at her fallen contraband and then up at the soldier who (...)read more

Groups ask for release of journalist

04|05|2012 - Press freedom advocacy groups on Wednesday said the charges by the State Security Court (SSC) prosecutor general against a journalist and publisher of a news website were a violation of the right (...)read more

Tunisian protesters lift sit-in at national broadcaster

02|05|2012 - TUNIS— Demonstrators who claim Tunisia’s state television network is backing the ousted Ben Ali dictatorship ended nearly eight weeks of sit-ins Wednesday after the government asked them to leave. (...)read more

New project to help civil society protect women’s physical integrity

30|04|2012 - French Ambassador to Jordan Corinne Breuze and Maha Nuaimy, officer in charge and deputy regional director of UN Women, exchange documents after signing an agreement to protect women’s physical (...)read more

Fears for Bahrain hunger striker; minister defends police

27|04|2012 - DUBAI— The wife of a jailed Bahraini activist said on Wednesday she was worried about the fate of her husband after more than two months of hunger strike but the interior ministry said he was in (...)read more

Minister of Labour receives the International Trade Union Confederation’s delegation (ITUC)

25|04|2012 - Manama, April 24th (BNA) –Minister of Labour, Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan received in his office today the International Trade Union Confederation’s delegation (ITUC) chaired by the Secretary (...)read more

Deputy Premier receives ITUC delegation

25|04|2012 - Manama: April 24 — (BNA) Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa received today a delegation from the International Trade Unions’ Confederation (ITUC) led by its Secretary-General Mrs. (...)read more

One killed after gunmen attack Sayeda Zeinab police station

19|04|2012 - One man was killed Saturday after security forces exchanged fire with a group of gunmen trying to break into the Sayeda Zeinab Police Station in Cairo, security sources said. The men were (...)read more