Women and youth involvement in bank trade unions in regression

The external relations officer of the Federation of Unions of Banks' Employees, Faten Faqih, noted that the implementation of the collective contract scheme is still not respected by some of the banks namely in terms of applying annual increments as well as school and social benefits.  She clarified that even though the Federation is extending efforts to ensure that employees’ rights are guaranteed, there is nevertheless a marked regression in the number of adherents to the  trade union  namely amongst youth and women, where the latter represent 49% of those working in the banking sector.

Faqih was speaking yesterday at the annual regional meeting of banking sector trade unions at the UNI Finance in Middle East and North Africa held in Beirut with the participation of the Federation as well as representatives of bank employees’ syndicates from France, Italy, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.  Faqih pointed out to the important role of banks and financial institutions in terms of contributing to addressing economic regression especially that, according to her, unemployment and poor culture are major cases of this deterioration.  She added that the Federation, following a tough negotiation period last year, was able to preserve employees’ rights as well as create a solidarity fund which provides health care for the employees of the sector in 2014-15.  She also noted that the Federation is now working to increase the capacities of the pension fund.  The president of the Federation of Unions of Banks’ Employees, Georges Hajj noted that the realities of trade unionism in Lebanon is marred by political dissension as the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers is being dominated over the past years by political forces which have co-opted its decision and which led to schisms within the movement thus affecting its role as a defender of workers right.  He acknowledged however that the Federation of Unions of Banks' Employees succeeded in remaining autonomous and free from that abysmal situation.
Source: Al-Diyar 28 March 2014