Arab Trade Unions: Between Democratic Deficiency and the Need for Reform

What is the role of trade unions in the face of attacks on labour rights, retrenchment of welfare states and curtailment of social/democratic rights through right wing and authoritarian governments? This is a question that is not only relevant in the Maghreb region – which we will focus on in this event - it is also increasingly, of major importance in Europe and other regions of the world that are facing similar trends. 

How can trade unions organise and react to these challenges? What kind of strategies are needed? What can we learn from the experience of Arab Trade Unions?

Speakers

We are pleased to host Mohamad Trabelsi, former Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Tunisia and a senior specialist of workers activities of ILO for the region Northern Africa.

Comments

Comments will be offered by Reiner Hoffmann, the former president of the German Trade Union Confederation DGB, and now vice president of FES.

Moderator

Robin Frisch, FES Country Director, Algeria

Chair

Martina Sproll, IPE Berlin

This is a joint event with the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).