Strengthening workers’ organizations in the Arab States through enhanced support to socio-economic and legal literacy

At a time when the trade union movement was largely sidelined in most Arab countries, the prominent role of the workers’ movement as a catalyst for the winds of democratic change has brought a new perspective and priority to the issues of trade unionism. In responding to these emerging realities and given the potential of workers’ movements, the ILO aims through this project to develop the capacity of workers’ organizations in the Arab region to participate effectively in policy debates, influence public decisions, and defend workers’ rights and interests, with a focus on Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon. The project of 36 months aims at strengthening the institutional capacity of workers’ organizations and their technical capacity. It will train and assist workers’ organizations to undertake needs assessments in each target country, on the basis of which context-specific strategies and action plans will be developed targeting increased internal democracy, independence and degree of representation of workers’ organizations. Accordingly, it will implement a comprehensive capacity development program including technical support for the trade union leadership, training on organizational, socioeconomic and legal issues for organized and unorganized workers, and the establishment of a Labor Education and Research Network for the Arab Region

Project symbol

RAB/11/01/NTU

Admin unit

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Start date

02/09/2011

End date

01/09/2014

Total allocation

50000

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

26035

Development Partners

Norway Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen Norge)

Country/Countries

Bahrain
Lebanon
Arab States - regional
Oman

Outcomes

Strong and representative employers' and workers' organizations