Damascus-SANA
The work of the fifth session of the Conference of the Arab Union for Transport Workers kicked off today, with the participation of Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait, in the building of the Arab Institute for Labor Studies in the countryside of Damascus.
During the conference, a report was presented on the activity of the General Secretariat of the Arab Transport Workers Union in the next stage and its plan aimed at strengthening the bonds of Arab cooperation and integration in the land, sea, air and railway transport sectors and developing them in the Arab region, strengthening the union’s capabilities to meet the challenges of the next stage, and deepening strategic cooperation between organizations. Members, and to confront attempts aimed at causing strife and problems among the people of the same nation.
Participants in the conference proposed the formation of working groups from the member organizations, each of which is specialized in specific technical issues, whose mission is to discuss ways to develop the transport sector, coordination and cooperation between relevant institutes and training centers, exchange information and data in the field of all transport sectors, and learn about developments and results of the organizations' meetings. And regional and international federations specialized in transport sectors of all kinds.
Participants called for the preparation of a multimodal transport network, defining link lines with other countries and regional groupings, proposing draft Arab transport agreements and memorandums of understanding, organizing specialized workshops, working to standardize the conditions, specifications and requirements for transporting hazardous materials, and identifying obstacles and problems facing the movement of goods between and through. Arab countries, defining the rights of the carrier and the consignee, who has the right to dispose of the goods during the transport process, and amending the constitution of the Arab Federation of Transport Workers.
In a statement to SANA reporter, the President of the General Confederation of Trade Unions in Syria and the Secretary General of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions, Jamal Al-Qadri, stressed that the importance of the conference stems from the importance of the transport sector, which is the lifeblood of the economy, indicating that Arab transport workers faced many challenges during the past years, and were moving targets. To the terrorists who tried to dismember economies, including the Syrian economy, which necessitated the development of a road map during the conference to approach the challenges facing Arab transport workers, so that its recommendations would be submitted to the joint Arab action councils to find solutions to them.
In a speech to the head of the Professional Federation of Transport in Syria, Muhammad Ghassan Rasool, he stated that the working class is considered the vital nerve of any economy and the transport sector in particular. Therefore, this sector must be given the necessary attention, and work to reach recommendations and decisions that improve the conditions of Arab transport workers, and remove injustice from them.
In a statement to SANA reporter, a number of Arab trade unionists emphasized the necessity of activating the transport sector among the Arab countries, and finding solutions to the problems that hinder its development.
And from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ashraf Al-Dawkar, who was elected today as Secretary-General of the Arab Transport Union, indicated that the transport sector is the lifeblood of the economies of the Arab countries, and the conference constitutes an important step for its development in all countries, while the head of the Land Transport Unions in Lebanon, Bassam Tlais, stated that the conference stems from Its importance is because it is held in Syria, which we are proud of in its role and stances towards all countries, adding: “It aspires to unite efforts in order to confront all the enemies of the nation.”
And from the Union of Transport and Communications Workers in Yemen, Fahd Al-Mahdi called for the necessity of seeking to lift the siege imposed on Yemen for years, in order to be able to rebuild and develop its various sectors, including the transport sector, and to deepen Arab cooperation in this important sector, while the head of the Workers Union in The Ministry of Communications in Kuwait, Nasser Falah Al-Azmi, said that he hopes to reach a consensus among all countries to solve the problems of workers in this sector, and to deepen joint Arab cooperation.
The President of the Transport Union in Palestine, Muhammad Yassin, stated that the conference discussed many urgent labor issues, and the Executive Council and members of the General Secretariat of the Union were elected, which contributes to strengthening its role on the ground, while the President of the General Union of Transport and Communications Workers in Iraq, Sabah Shalish Al-Faraj Al-Daradji, expressed He hopes that the conference will come out with important recommendations that contribute to deepening joint action in the Arab transport sector, and removing the difficulties facing it.
For his part, the head of the National Union of Gulf Air Workers in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Youssef Ahmed Abdullah, pointed out that the conference is a step to exchange experiences and reach positive ideas that support the transport sector in the Arab countries and protect its workers.
At the conclusion of the conference, a president of the conference, a rapporteur, the Executive Council of the Arab Federation, a president of the council, a deputy for it, a deputy secretary-general of the federation, assistant secretaries-general for Arab and international relations, culture, media, occupational and economic health and safety, training and rehabilitation, youth and women, assistance committees and labor culture were elected.
Ambassador Ismail
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