The IUF and sister global unions are continuing their call on the ILO to protect the physical and mental health of Ramzi Derder, a member of the national bureau of the National Federation of Informal Workers, affiliated to the Conféderation syndicale des forces productives (COSYFOP).
Ramzi was arrested on 30 June 2021, and placed under a detention warrant on spurious grounds including terrorism, undermining the morale of the army and undermining national unity through his publications on social networks. On 18 July 2021, the court confirmed the judge’s order and Ramzi was sent to Batna prison. On 2 August, Ramzi was transferred to prison block for death row inmates and terrorism defendants though there is still no date for his trial. His physical and mental health are deteriorating.
- Algeria’s independent, democratic trade union movement continues to bear the brunt of on-going state, political, police, administrative and judicial repression, riding roughshod over observations from the ILO Committee of Experts in February 2020 with increasing numbers of trade unionists harassed or imprisoned
- The IUF, IndustriALL and PSI continue to work together to defend our affiliates using alerts to the ILO, other UN agencies and regional bodies to raise concerns about rights violations alongside regular denunciations of the Algerian government
IUF General Secretary Sue Longley denounced this flagrant violation of human rights: “Ramzi must be released unconditionally and without prosecution. We call on the ILO to aid in the campaign for his release. Our affiliates will continue the fight for a democratic Republic of Algeria where the freedom of association is fully respected, in accordance with international law, to which Algeria is bound.”
