The General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions continues to strengthen its union presence at the international level and build effective union partnerships, during its participation in the 114th session of the International Labor Conference in Geneva, where the Federation’s President, Khaled Al-Fanatsa, held a series of bilateral meetings with union leaders from Germany, Norway, and Turkey, aiming to discuss ways to enhance cooperation, exchange experiences, and launch joint programs and initiatives that serve workers and keep pace with the economic, social, and technological transformations taking place in the labor markets.
During these meetings, Al-Fanatsa stressed that openness to international union experiences represents a strategic direction for the General Union, which aims to develop Jordanian union performance and enhance its ability to defend workers’ rights and build partnerships based on the exchange of knowledge and experiences, which contributes to improving union work and consolidating the principles of social dialogue and decent work.
In his meeting with Ms. Caroline Vollmann, International Relations Officer at the German Workers’ Union (DGB), the two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in the areas of crisis management, dealing with variables affecting labor markets, and benefiting from German expertise in developing rapid response mechanisms, promoting social dialogue, and protecting workers’ rights. The meeting also discussed expanding women and youth empowerment programs, enhancing awareness of union rights through training and workshops, in addition to reviewing the experience of the General Union in establishing a migrant workers unit, which received interest from the German side, which expressed its willingness to exchange experiences and benefit from successful practices in this field.
Al-Fanatsa also met with the Advisor to the Norwegian Labor Union, Ms. Nina Moberg, where the discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the areas of the green economy and just transition, and supporting programs that qualify workers and unions to adapt to environmental and economic transformations, in addition to supporting the Youth and Women’s Committees through capacity-building programs and launching initiatives that enhance their participation in union work and decision-making. Moberg also confirmed the readiness of the Norwegian Labor Union to continue providing technical and programmatic support for joint initiatives in a way that enhances the capabilities of the General Union and expands the impact of its programs in various labor sectors.
Al-Fanatsa also discussed with the President of the Turkish Labor Union (HAK-İŞ), Mr. Mahmoud Arslan, mechanisms for developing cooperation in the fields of training and building union capacity, exchanging experiences in social dialogue and labor legislation, strengthening coordination in regional and international union forums, in addition to implementing joint programs that include vocational training, occupational safety and health, empowering youth and women, and exchanging delegations and experiences between the two unions.
In his meeting with the President of the Union of Government Sector Employees in the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Ali Yelçen, the two sides discussed ways to build an institutional partnership based on the exchange of experiences in developing union work, social dialogue, and legislation regulating public employment, in addition to cooperation in the areas of digital transformation of union work, capacity building, occupational safety and health, and establishing a sustainable system for exchanging knowledge and experiences, which contributes to improving union performance and serving workers in the government sector.
The two sides agreed in various meetings to continue coordination and develop practical mechanisms to implement joint programs and initiatives, including organizing workshops, mutual visits, and exchanging delegations and experiences, in a way that enhances the role of trade union organizations in facing economic and social challenges, supports sustainable development goals, consolidates the principles of decent work and social dialogue, and embodies the General Union’s approach towards building a wide network of regional and international partnerships to serve the Jordanian labor movement.
The meetings were attended by: Vice President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, Khaled Abu Marjoub, member of the Executive Office, Bushra Al-Salman, and Nizam Qahoush, advisor to the General Federation, while the meeting of the Turkish Trade Union Federation was attended by Nizam Qahoush, advisor to the General Union.
