The Secretary-General of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, Shaher Saad, confirmed that 143 million shekels are lost by Palestinian workers who work inside, and are paid monthly to permit brokers.

Saad confirmed in an interview with Al-Quds.com, on the occasion of International Labor Day, which falls on tomorrow, Monday, the first of May, that there is an increase in the value of what workers pay to permit brokers, as last year it was 120 million shekels per month, but it was monitored and reached Since the beginning of this year until now, 143 million shekels per month, as the worker pays an average of 3 thousand shekels to these brokers for each permit for one month.

Saad stressed that what is happening by employers by evading taxes, as well as paying lower wages, has prompted workers to resort to the black market and permit brokers, since they are paid attractive salaries, much more than those paid through work in an organized and official way!

According to Saad, 220,000 male and female workers work inside the country, of whom 75,000 work through permit brokers, 105,000 work in an organized manner, and 30,000 work smuggled.

On the other hand, and about the number of workers who have died since the beginning of this year until now, Saad said: "35 workers have been martyred for a living since the beginning of this year, including 27 workers inside, while 1,800 injuries were monitored for workers, of whom 50 were wounded by the occupation's bullets, and the rest are minors." He worked, which are statistics that we could not reach and they declared that.”

On a separate note, Saad stressed that Labor Day this year comes in light of the need to work to pass laws and legislation that protect the rights of the working class, without which social justice for workers cannot be achieved.

Saad continued, "In addition, the minimum wage is not applied in light of the need for the existence of labor courts, as more than 75,000 male and female workers have been monitored who are not subject to the minimum wage law."

Saad noted that the current minimum wage is 1,880 shekels, although it is incomplete and inconsistent with the cost of living table and the high prices table. He said: "The minimum wage was 1,450 shekels, then it was raised after painstaking negotiations."

Saad continued, "However, in light of the high prices and high cost of living, work must be done to link the minimum wage to those hikes, as wages vary from year to year, and it has become a requirement to raise the minimum wage to 2450 shekels."