RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian Labor Minister Nasri Abu Jish announced May 12 in a statement to the local radio station Watan FM that his ministry has been discussing with the High Judicial Council the possibility of establishing labor courts to rule on employment and labor-related matters and disputes, and to train qualified judges with extensive experience to this effect.

Abu Jish said that there are thousands of cases that remain unresolved in civil courts and that the Ministry of Labor has discussed the issue with the UN International Labor Organization (ILO) that has agreed on training qualified judges to preside over these courts when and if they are established.

Shaher Saad, the secretary-general of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), told Al-Monitor that the establishment of labor courts is a central demand to help workers and protect their rights and settle their grievances, especially women whose rights are violated, as they receive very low wages and sometimes aren't granted their end of service gratuity and leave salary.

“According to our information, the government has decided to establish these courts and is expected to announce its decision within a month,” he said.