palestine report

Seamstresses and secretaries plagued by wage discrimination

by Shahinaz Abdel Razeq

SUAD'S DAILY wage never exceeds NIS40 [$9.50] despite the fact that she has been working in the same job for over nine years. Her male colleague, who is relatively new on the job, is making NIS80 [$19]. This is typical of the gender discrimination that exists in many jobs.

Suad says she felt this discrimination from the time she began working. Her colleague was making double her salary. She says she is sure that years of experience and qualifications do not carry any weight in determining women's versus men's wages at the factory she works in.

Sana' al-Assi, head of the men and women's statistics program in the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics noted that there is a wide discrepancy in wages between the two sexes in the same job or in other jobs. She indicated that the wage of a working woman in the West Bank is approximately 34 percent lower than that of a man. This difference is much less in Gaza where women's wages are 19 percent lower.

Al-Assi warned that the existing gap in levels of pay is most apparent in the private sector, where women make much less than men. Al-Assi stressed the need for increasing integration of Palestinian woman in the work force, indicating that this would positively impact the national income.

According to a study conducted by the administration department for planning and information at the Palestinian labor ministry on the work market in the West Bank and Gaza, there is a clear discrepancy in wage averages between the sexes. A large gender discrepancy was found in wages in the fields of skilled and non-skilled jobs, as well as assistant positions. The percentage of difference between [men and women in] the three jobs is as follows, respectively: 27.8 percent, 27.3 percent and 19.3 percent.

The study also showed that this discrepancy between the sexes is apparent in all areas and in different fields. The highest rate is in the skilled work sector where women's wages are less then men's by 35.5 percent, and in unskilled work the rate is 20 percent. In assistant jobs, the difference is 22 percent. The gap decreases in the field of specialized administration, where women's wages are 14 percent less than men's.

The secretarial field is one of the sectors most plagued by low wages, despite the fact that is practically monopolized by females. Secretaries' wages in the private sector - those in doctor's or lawyers' offices - range between 50 and 100 Jordanian dinars [$75 to $150 per month]. This is in comparison to secretaries working in large companies and institutions in both the private and public sectors whose wages range between 200and 300 Jordanian dinars [$300 to $450 per month].

Amal, a graduate in business administration, said that due to the lack of job opportunities in her field, she was forced to work as a secretary in a doctor's office for NIS400 [$95 a month]. According to her, she was also playing the role of a nurs- preparing the anesthesia shots, taking the measurements for a set of dentures - in addition to the secretarial work of cleaning the office, answering phones and scheduling patients (not to mention making coffee and tea for her boss and his guests).

Atef Sa'ad, editor of the worker's union paper, "The Voice of the Worker," said that there are around 5,000 secretaries in Nablus who work in the private and public sectors. Twenty-five percent of these women are subjected to wage discrimination; many of them hold university degrees but take home a salary not exceeding 50 dinars [$75 per month]. This reflects a high level of underemployment among female college graduates.

Sa'ad added that a significant number of secretaries get paid a monthly salary of no more than 40 dinars [$60].

The phenomenon of low wages for those in the secretarial field can be explained by the absence of a minimum wage and contracts to provide legal protection for the workers.

The [Palestinian] labor law requires the drawing up of an individual contract in any job, in order to reserve the rights and duties of both sides.

Some employers justified this discrimination in wages between males and females in the same job by referring to the responsibilities of men. According to them, women are "homemakers" and do not have any responsibilities, while men are required to provide the necessities for the home.

Um Mohammed, who has been working in a sewing factory for the past five years, says that the financial burden of the home is not a convincing excuse for wage discrimination. She says it is only a prevailing tradition in our society that reinforces the distinctions "I am a woman" and "he is a man."

Um Mohammed, a widow and a mother of four, gets NIS38 [$9] as a daily wage in exchange for sitting in front of a sewing machine for eight hours. She says she also works during her weekly vacation in order to manage her daily needs, especially since three of her children are still in school.

She questions whether the burden and responsibility put on men is an excuse for discrimination in wages. "My responsibilities for my family are double those of most of my male colleagues. But my salary does not exceed half of the minimum wage of any of them."

The society as a whole is responsible for accepting and reinforcing this discrepancy, beginning with the opinion that whatever a girl makes is enough for her and is better than if she just sits in the house.

One sewing factory owner in Nablus says, "I have a brother and sister working for me. Even though they began working at the same time, there is a 40 percent difference in their wages. But they haven't objected to this in all the four years they have been working for me."

Sahar, who has been a seamstress for over 10 years, says she has worked in four factories during that time. She says she puts her work experience "in a drawer in the last sewing machine she worked on," thus implying that her experience does not add up to anything when it comes to deciding on her wages.

Said, the owner of a sewing factory in the Jenin district, says if a woman has plenty of experience, is quick and her work is of high quality, this could gain her a NIS50 [$12] daily wage. He says this amount is the highest wage given to most female workers in West Bank factories.

Widad al-Wazni, coordinator for the workers program in the Women's Workers Society in Nablus, says there is a large discrepancy in wages between the sexes, especially in sewing factories. One example she gives is of a worker in a sewing factory who attained a monthly salary of 120 dinars [$180] after 25 years of experience, while her male colleague, who has less experience, is making 350 dinars [$525].

Sources from the Palestinian Worker's Union say that the role of the union is to confront this discrimination in wages and to work towards lessening the discrepancy by applying the principle of equal pay for equal work.

Atef Sa'ad indicated that the union seeks equity for women from a legal aspect. He pointed out the union's proposal of equality in wages in the Palestinian Labor Law, as well as other issues like women's right to a maternity leave for a period of 10 weeks, at least six of which should be fully paid.

Widad Wazni discussed the role of the workers' program in terms of wages. She said the program sent a memo to the education and social affairs committee in the Legislative Council, demanding a fair labor law that includes minimum wage. They warned that an extended meeting between the education and social affairs committee and the labor ministry and labor unions in addition to economic specialists would be held to determine a minimum wage in accordance with the present economic conditions.

Translated from al -Ayyam supplement sponsored by the Women's Affairs Technical Committee on September 22, 1999 by Joharah Baker. (c)Palestine Report

In May of 1997, a 600-page internal auditing report of the Palestinian Authority revealed that corruption and financial mismanagement had resulted in the loss of $326 million of the annual budget. The report charged several members of President Arafat's cabinet with corruption, saying that they had diverted aid for personal use. The report alleged that planning minister Nabil Shaath had set up a fund for private expenses like telephone and electricity bills. Culture minister Yasser Abed Rabbo reportedly used $7,500 of Authority funding to pay for a heating system in his home.

When called to appear before the Palestinian Legislative Council only the cabinet members whom the report had recommended for trial showed up to counter the allegations. Following the report's release, 18 out of 21 ministers offered their resignations, although the ensuing cabinet reshuffle was well-criticized for avoiding a real shake-up.

This report by thPalestinain Legislative Council was followed one year later with more allegations. This time European Union auditor accused the Palestinian Authority of using $20 million dollars donated by the EU and earmarked for low income housing to build homes for Authority supporters and their families. Sources within the PA confirmed that 90% of the apartments had actually been given to wealthy people within the administration - not to low income residents, reported the London Sunday Times. The $20 million was part of a $60 million aid package overseen by Manuel Martin, the Spanish Commissioner for EU Relations with the Middle East, who himself has been tarnished by mismanagement accusations.

Despite the persistent allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement, the international community in December 1998 pledged $3 billion in new aid to the Palestinian Authority, an amount that included an additional $400 million from the United States. This generous offering indicated that the allegations of donation misuse would not affect donor support.

In fact, in February 1999, the European Commission quickly countered several news agency reports that the EU was considering freezing all aid to the Palestinian Authority based on its poor track record. In a letter to the editor of the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, European Commission Represenative, Theirry Bechert said that the European Commission is not freezing funds to the Authority and that it has always been frank about its concern over transparency, alleged corruption and nepotism. He wrote that the Commission has not given aid directly to the Palestinian Authority since 1996, and that European money goes directly to those responsible for public works. Indeed, most aid money is handled by local agents of the contributing government.

Although Bechert denied that the EU would freeze funding to the Palestinian Authority, it appears that donor countries at the Frankfurt Conference have actually handed over only $174 million of the promised $750 million. The European Union paid out only 40 percent of the original sum it committed to. Palestinian officials told Middle East News Wire that the conflict in Kosovo and relief efforts in Turkey and Taiwan have "taken precedence over Palestinians."

The speculation over whether the European Union would consider freezing funds continued when the Council on Foreign Relations task force came out with its report on Palestinian public institutions in June 1999. The report was funded by the European Commission and Norway and found that despite achievements, the Palestinian Authority has significant problems with financial accountability and transparency, among other things. The several Europeans sitting on the task force told reporters at a press conference that donor funds were not contingent on these changes being made, but they also stressed that funding would not last forever.

Palestinian Khalil Shikaki, one of the report's authors, says that the report did not focus on Palestinian use of donor funding - simply internal management of funds. He maintains that there were no complaints by donor countries about transparency or accountability for their donations during the writing of the report.

In response to the task force report President Arafat has established an active committee headed by planning minister Shaath (and ironically, composed of several other Palestinian officials previously accused of corruption) to address the Council recommendations. Further, Arafat has appointed an Attorney General, reconstituted the Supreme Court and, just this week, reaffirmed the independence of the judiciary, one of the report's major concerns. Shikaki says that these steps by Arafat are "very positive."

Foreign representatives decline to comment whether the recent drop in actual funding is only a result of competing world problems, or whether subtle pressure is being placed on the Authority to heed international concerns with the way it carries out business. It can be inferred, however, that foreign donors would rather use reports prepared in the spirit of cooperation to influence the Palestinian Authority, rather than the method of direct threat. -Published 29/9/99 ©Palestine Report
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Protests in Nablus

For the third time in one week, youths set fire to tires and closed off streets in the Nablus refugee camp of Balata to protest a wave of arrests and weapons seizures carried out by the Palestinian security apparatus. According to camp residents, all those arrested were Fateh supporters who receive their salaries from the Preventive Security Service. Protesters also claimed that one youth had been tortured by the Palestinian security services in a Jericho detention prison. According to Kamel al-Afghani, who represents Balata, 17 of the 30 men arrested in the past few days are from the camp. Official Palestinian security sources claim that those arrested were wanted by the preventive security for various security violations (al-Ayyam, Ha'aretz).

Wiley Dealings

Unnamed Palestinian sources have stated that a recently uncovered network of land brokers has transferred Palestinian lands and real estate to Israeli settlement societies though an office in Amman, Jordan. The source confirmed that the office is trying to sell a 1,300 square meter piece of land near the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem through an attorney in Jordan who will then make arrangements to sell it to an Israeli real estate office. The source said that there is Palestinian-Jordanian cooperation to halt such transactions (al-Quds).

TV Celebrities

According to the Hollywood Reporter, a production company owned by Barbara Streisand will begin shooting a television film on Palestinian president Yasser Arafat and the late Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin at the beginning of the coming millennium. The three-hour movie will be entitled, "The Handshake that Shook the World" in reference to the historical handshake between Arafat and Rabin on September 13, 1993. Ben Kingsley will play Arafat while Edan Chen will play Rabin (al-Hayat al-Jadida).

Walt Disney War

On September 23, the Palestinian Authority called on its supporters to email Walt Disney asking it to amend the Israeli exhibition in its upcoming Florida millennium fair. The exhibition, Arabs say, will depict Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel. Palestinian Information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo called on all Arab, Islamic and Christian organizations that support the Palestinian cause to write protest letters to the company. On September 25, however, the Israeli foreign ministry announced that it had reached an agreement with the Arab League Council concerning the exhibition. The ministry issued a statement saying that the meeting between Arab foreign ministers and Israeli foreign minister David Levy had resulted in an Israeli deletion of text of the exhibition that refers to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (al-Ayyam, al-Quds).

PFLP Man Comes Home

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced that the Front's deputy-general Abu Ali Mustapha would return to the Palestinian territories sometime this week. PFLP politburo member Maher al-Taher said that Mustapha's return is a right for all Palestinians, adding that the Front still opposes the Oslo agreements. Al-Taher stressed that the PFLP will not participate in final status talks and that the Front willcontinue to act as an opposition group and refuse participation in any Palestinian Authority institutions (al-Quds).

Offensive Marketing

A newly marketed label on Israeli wines has been distributed to local, Israeli and international markets and has inflamed the sentiments of Palestinians and Muslims alike. The label, which is part of the Israeli Jerusalem 2000 campaign, depicts a color photo of al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. The Palestinian daily newspaper al-Hayat al-Jadida has called for boycotting the company, breaking its wine bottles and boycotting its dealers (al-Hayat al-Jadida).

Sick Cows in Gaza

The Gaza Center for Rights and Law has called on the Palestinian Authority to strictly monitor all crossings after recently discovering large quantities of beef not suitable for human consumption in the Gaza market. The center called on all animals to be quarantined and subjected to inspection before they enter Gaza. Apparently some Palestinian merchants buy sick cows from Israeli farms and sell them at a lower price on the market, supposedly in a fight against inflation. According to the center, these cows would otherwise be burned by their Israeli owners (al-Hayat al-Jadida).

No Different than Netanyahu

The Israeli housing minister has issued the tenders for the construction of 2,600 new housing units in West Bank settlements, including 1,000 located in Jerusalem. According to the Israeli Peace Now organization, the rate at which tenders are being issued is faster than the previous government under Netanyahu (al-Ayyam).

Protection for the Judge

While reviewing a case in the Gaza magistrate court, Judge F.R. inadvertently insulted one of the tribes in the case, thus forcing him to seek police protection upon leaving the courtroom. Apparently, the judge insulted the tribe by asking one of the defendants if his family had been the slaves of a certain family. The defendant was quick to respond with lewd insults and called for the judge to appear before a tribal court to settle the dispute (al-Hayat al-Jadida).

The Price of Redeployment

The Hebron municipality stated that the Israeli army has closed off 23,000 dunams of land belonging to Arab villages of Beit Ula and Idna north of Hebron. The territories are close to the Green Line and border the safe passage from Gaza to Tarkumiya. Residents of these areas have received warnings from the Israeli civil administration to evacuate the territory. There are approximately 200 families living in these areas who have refused to leave their land. According to the Israeli military spokesman, the closure is justified to prevent persons from entering live training grounds. The areas were transferred from Israeli control to Area B in the most recent redeployment (Ha'aretz).

Breaking the Union Oath

Three Jordanian journalists may be expelled from the union because of an early September visit to Israel. The journalists have been brought before a disciplinary hearing, which may lead to their dismissal, on charges of violating a union decision that forbids normalization with Israel. The journalists, from the Jordan Times, al-Ra'i and al-Dustour, were invited by Haifa University to take part in an annual conference (Ha'aretz, al-Hayat al-Jadida).

No Jerusalem for Palestinians

The Israeli tourist company Palphot was able to obtain a court decision banning the distribution, printing or selling of stickers depicting the Dome of the Rock produced by the photographer Garo from East Jerusalem. The stickers contained the slogan "Year 2000." Palphot claims that it holds the copyright to depictions of these archeological sites. Garo has declared his intention to appeal the case, demanding that Palphot products be banned in areas under Palestinian jurisdiction (al-Quds).

Not Quite Free

Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi has remained in detention in a Palestinian Authority prison in Gaza despite orders by a Palestinian Authority judge to release him. Rantisi has been detained without charge since August 7 and was ordered released by the judge presiding over the case. Rantisi, however, was never released, due to claims that new allegations had arisen. Rantisi's attorney was informed that the Hamas leader would now be charged with defaming the Authority (Ha'aretz). -Published 29/9/99 (c)Palestine Report

While Israeli troops have redeployed to the edge of the Gaza Strip and from all or part of seven West Bank cities, the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is by no means finished. The JMCC seeks to keep a record of acts of Israeli violence (both military and civilian), and collective punishment. The following figures are for the week September 23 to 29 and were compiled from the Palestinian press and JMCC sources. They should not be considered a complete list of the ongoing Israeli violations of human rights of Palestinians.

CONFISCATED 150 dunams from the villages of Jaloud and Kariot, by Israeli settlers.