The Palestinian Association for Human Rights (witness) extends its deepest respect and appreciation to the workers of Palestine in the occupied territories and in refugee camps on the occasion of May 1st, International Workers' Day—a day that embodies the struggle of the laboring class for justice, fair working hours, and a dignified life.
International Workers' Day 2026 arrives as the Palestinian worker faces the most harrowing circumstances. In Lebanon, the recent war has cast a dark shadow over Palestinian refugees, transforming hundreds of productive workers into displaced persons or unemployed individuals entirely dependent on meager humanitarian aid.
(witness) expresses its profound concern regarding the fact that the recent conflict in Lebanon has caused hundreds of Palestinian workers to lose their livelihoods, particularly in the agriculture, construction, and service sectors in Southern Lebanon and the Southern Suburbs of Beirut.
Data indicates that unemployment rates among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have surged, exceeding 85% by early 2026. This is largely due to the collapse of hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises upon which refugees relied, creating a massive socio-economic gap that cannot be bridged under the current austerity policies pursued by UNRWA.
Accordingly, the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (witness) emphasizes the following:
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Respecting Workers' Rights: The necessity of upholding the rights of Palestinian workers in all locations and fostering their resilience to work on their land by adopting policies that support them.
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Urgent Labor Reforms: We call upon the Lebanese government, specifically the Ministry of Labor, to issue urgent exceptional decrees allowing Palestinian workers access to employment opportunities without restrictions, and to revoke discriminatory laws that prevent them from practicing liberal professions.
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Expansion of UNRWA Programs: We demand that UNRWA implement a large-scale "Cash for Work" program to absorb the influx of unemployed workers resulting from displacement, and to ensure the disbursement of emergency compensation to families who lost their livelihoods during the war.
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Reviewing Minimum Wage: The necessity of adjusting the minimum wage in light of inflation in Lebanon to ensure the dignity of workers and their families in the face of the skyrocketing cost of living.
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International Solidarity: We call upon global trade unions and international labor federations to shed light on the suffering of Palestinian workers in Lebanon, who are experiencing their own "economic Nakba" resulting from the intersection of legal deprivation and the devastating consequences of war.
Palestinian Association for Human Rights (witness)May 1, 2026