Country Rating: 5

  • No guarantee of rights

  • Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights, workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labour practices.

Anti-union discrimination: In March 2013, nine trade union members were dismissed from their positions according to SNAPAP when they started to call a series of strikes from January onwards. The latest strikes were scheduled for 25, 26 and 27 February but were declared illegal by the Court of Algiers.

Rachid Malaoui dismissed: In May 2013, Rachid Malaoui, President of SNAPAP, was removed from his post at the University of Continuous Education before he was about to take part in the International Labour Conference in June 2013. Several negotiations have taken place with the Minsitry of Labour and other state institution. However, no concrete steps have been undertaken to reinstate Rachid Malaoui.

Travel bans against trade unionists: The Algerian authorities prevented a delegation of 96 trade unionists and civil society activists from crossing the border into Tunisia to attend the World Social Forum in March 2013. The only reason given by border police in Annaba was that the trade unionists were on a list of people banned from leaving Algeria because of "unrest".

Interference in trade union activities and harassment by police: North African trade unionists visiting Algeria to take part in the first North African Forum to Fight Unemployment and Precarious Work were harassed by police. Police raided the hotel where the trade unionists were staying and proceeded to arrest five Moroccans, three Tunisians and three Mauritanians, including two women. They were then driven directly to the airport and deported from the country. The trade unionists detained were due to take part in a meeting at the Maison des syndicats. Police surrounded the trade union premises early in the morning and prohibited any attempt to access or vacate the building.

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