Ramallah: Minister of Women's Affairs Mona Al-Khalili has highlighted the role of Israeli occupation authorities in exacerbating economic violence against Palestinian women by limiting their access to the labor market and resources. Al-Khalili stated that these actions push women towards informal employment, which lacks necessary legal and social protections.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Al-Khalili's remarks came in a statement issued by the ministry to mark International Workers' Day. She emphasized that achieving women's economic justice is crucial for national resilience and is foundational for constructing a fair Palestinian economy that offers equal opportunities, safe working conditions, and social protection.
Al-Khalili referenced economic indicators that demonstrate a significant decline in the Palestinian economy, with a contraction of around 24 percent in the gross domestic product. The Gaza Strip's economy has collapsed by approximately 84 percent, while the West Bank's economy has decreased by about 13 percent. Unemployment rates have surged to around 46 percent, with figures reaching 78 percent in the Gaza Strip and 28 percent in the West Bank, resulting in over 650,000 unemployed individuals.
Addressing the situation of women in the labor market, Al-Khalili noted that 41.5 percent of women work without contracts, 30 percent are employed based on verbal agreements, and only 47.2 percent receive paid maternity leave. Furthermore, a persistent wage gap remains in favor of men.
She also mentioned that the ongoing financial crisis, exacerbated by Israeli deductions from clearance revenues, has heightened economic instability and adversely impacted families, especially those led by women. The Gaza Strip's situation continues to worsen, characterized by widespread income loss, escalating poverty, and food insecurity.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs urged immediate actions to improve decent work opportunities for women, expand social protection, and tackle economic violence as a key policy issue. In her concluding remarks, Al-Khalili stressed the importance of women's economic empowerment for reinforcing Palestinian resilience and called on the international community and the International Labour Organization to fulfill their duties in stopping violations and ensuring Palestinian workers' rights to decent work and a dignified life.