New trade union roadmap places workers’ voices at the heart of Gaza’s recovery

New trade union roadmap places workers' voices at the heart of Gaza's recovery

The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions defines priorities to ensure that Gaza's recovery creates decent work, protects labour rights and strengthens representation for workers.

3 August 2026

Members of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions' (PGFTU) Executive Committee participate in an ILO-supported planning workshop on the role of trade unions in Gaza's recovery. Gaza 1/8/2026

GAZA (ILO News) - As Gaza continues to face immense humanitarian needs while beginning the long path towards recovery from unprecedented devastation, workers and their organizations are laying the foundations to ensure reconstruction delivers decent work opportunities grounded in labour rights and a stronger voice for working people.

A new roadmap developed by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) sets out practical priorities for trade unions throughout the recovery and reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip. It outlines how they can better represent workers, monitor working conditions, document labour issues, refer workers to support services, advocate for their rights and position their voices at the centre of the recovery.

The roadmap was developed during a two-day planning workshop held with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Gaza City on 1-2 August, bringing together members of the PGFTU Executive Committee from areas across the Gaza Strip. The initiative aimed to ensure that workers' perspectives shape decisions as Gaza transitions from emergency response towards longer-term recovery.

"We must strengthen the role of the trade union movement in defending workers' rights," said PGFTU Secretary-General Shaher Saed, opening the workshop. He highlighted the urgent need to rebuild confidence in workers' representation after years of conflict and prolonged institutional challenges.

"Workers have kept Gaza going throughout the crisis," said Dan Cork, ILO Representative in Jerusalem. "They are breadwinners, first responders, and pillars of their communities. As Gaza looks towards recovery, social dialogue between workers and employers' organisations will be essential to rebuilding a labour market that is inclusive, resilient and grounded in decent work."

Participants at the ILO-supported planning workshop work on a roadmap outlining the PGFTU's role in Gaza's recovery and reconstruction. Gaza 1/8/2026

Participants identified sectors where employment opportunities are likely to emerge during reconstruction, analysed barriers preventing workers from accessing jobs, and agreed on priority labour issues. They also affirmed the central role of trade unions in representing workers' interests, strengthening accountability and helping to ensure that recovery creates safe, productive and rights-based employment.

The roadmap aligns with the PGFTU Strategic Plan 2025-2029 and will guide collaboration between trade unions in Gaza and the West Bank as recovery efforts advance. The ILO will continue supporting its tripartite constituents including the PGFTU throughout the reconstruction process.

The initiative forms part of the ILO's wider response to the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The ILO has supported workers, employers and government institutions through its Emergency Response Plan and Recovery Programme, combining immediate income support and emergency employment schemes with longer-term efforts to restore livelihoods, strengthen labour market institutions and promote job-rich recovery. Trade unions, including the PGFTU, are among the ILO's key tripartite partners in these efforts.

The need for such support remains acute. ILO assessments have documented the unprecedented impact of the war on employment and livelihoods across Gaza. As they show, sustainable reconstruction will depend on rebuilding infrastructure, restoring decent work opportunities and strengthening the institutions that protect workers' rights, livelihood and wellbeing.

"As Gaza moves from emergency response towards recovery, rebuilding workplaces must go hand in hand with rebuilding trust, representation and social dialogue," Cork said. "A recovery that is shaped with workers, rather than simply for workers, will be better equipped to create lasting opportunities and resilience."