Ref:7 /2019
Date: 06 Feb 2019
Press Release
The International commission (ICSPR) deplores the continuation of the Palestinian government’s policy of cutting salaries of employees in Gaza Strip and demands that it comply with the provisions of Palestinian law and its obligations to respect human rights.
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) follows with deep concern and condemnation the new governmental procedures of cutting the salaries of large numbers of civil and military employees and families of martyrs, prisoners and wounded from Gaza Strip, where the employees of the above categories were surprised of cutting their salaries and financial dues owed by the government without giving any reasons when they went to receive their salaries through ATM banks scattered in the governorates of Gaza Strip.
The information indicates that the Palestinian government recently took the step of cutting the salaries of January 2019 of about (5043) employees, in the framework of a multi-chapters Palestinian formal policy on the right of employees, started with deduction and delay of salaries, ended with the policy of cutting the salaries without any legal justification, which has created a state of anger and indignation among employees and their families, as it would exacerbate the extremely difficult humanitarian situation currently prevailing in Gaza Strip.
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) reiterates its rejection of all governmental justifications for such action, as it constitutes a manifest violation of the Palestinian laws governing the financial rights of public servants, and it reaffirms that the salary of the public servants, as well as the financial dues received by the families of martyrs, prisoners and the wounded are genuine rights owed by the government, guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and the relevant laws to preserve their dignity and stability. Therefore, ICSPR demands the following:
- ICSPR stresses that the government’s continued implementation of the policy of cutting salaries has contributed to the impoverishment of employees and a large segments of the society, especially in light of the high rates of food insecurity in Gaza Strip to about 73%, and therefore it renews its call on the Palestinian government to immediately reverse its action of cutting salaries in accordance with the rule of law and justice.
- ICSPR warns against the continuation of the Palestinian government in intensifying the collective punishment imposed on Gaza Strip, especially in view of the current circumstances in which the government has been using public funds for the purpose of political revenge.
- ICSPR emphasizes that the decisions to cut the salaries of employees and families of martyrs, prisoners and wounded, lack the elements of administrative decision in terms of inclusiveness, abstraction and causation, as it constituted discrimination between employees on the basis of political opinion and freedom of expression.
- ICSPR calls on all Palestinians to shoulder their legal and national responsibilities to stop the state of political and humanitarian collapse and to avoid the dangers of division and political conflict.
Regards,
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR)
