Islamic bank sacks dozens of employees

Available at: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=375378

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Palestine Islamic Bank staff said dozens of employees were dismissed from branches in the West Bank and Gaza on Thursday.

Shadi Abu Nahel, one of the dismissed employees, told Ma’an that the bank’s administration handed 38 employees a letter terminating their employment contracts with immediate effect.

Abu Nahel said 24 of the employees were from the Gaza Strip and 14 from the West Bank.

The administration based its decision to dismiss staff on Article 41 of the Palestinian labor law no. 7 of 2000, which states that employers can terminate employment contracts for technical reasons or loss, he said.

Employees said the dismissal was unjustified, and noted that under Palestinian labor law, employees must be notified one month before the termination of the contract.

Abu Nahel said employees had appealed to the Palestinian Monetary Authority, human rights organizations, the Palestine Investment Fund, and the Ministry of Labor to intervene to end their problem.

He added that the Minister of Labor in the Gaza government promised to form an investigation committee.

The sacked employees said they would continue to protest until they were reinstated.

The administration of the Palestine Islamic Bank said its spokesman was not available to comment.

In May 2010, the Arab Bank dismissed dozens of employees ahead of the closure of two branches in the Gaza Strip, which economists said was an attempt to stem international accusations of cooperation with the local government.

Regards
ZULKIFLI HASAN