News

The UNI MENA office in Tunisia hosted a delegation from the General Union of Libyan workers (UGTL) that was created in February 2011 (10 days after the Libyan revolution). This is a revival of the old trade union organization which had been banned under the Gaddafi regime. The delegation was headed by Neji Sharif, Secretary General of UGTL who is from the postal sector, Nermine - Sharif, Head of International Relations and Chair of the ports, marine and customs union and Younes - Werfelli from the banking sector. The UGTL now has 450,000 members and is represented all over Libya with most of their members in banks, post offices, petrol, transportation and the public sector.

UGTL have been actively involved in the development of the new Libyan labor law, which ensures freedom of association and the formation of trade unions. During the negotiations with the Government, they struggled to impose the necessary amendments to existing laws and to ensure compliance with ILO conventions.

Mongi Abderrahim, the UNI MENA Region Coordinator, based in the UNI Tunis office, will maintain contact with UGTL and has arranged a further meeting later in February to see how UNI can support the UGTL. The Libyan delegation was also met by Tunisian trade union represaentatives, Hayet Trabelsi from the UGTT Federation of professions and services Leyla Hazem UNI Mena women's  coordinator and the Shiraz Sassi, Assistant UNI MENA.