Mauritania: Court clerk strike unconstitutional

The Mauritanian Ministry of Justice described a strike by court clerks as being “removed from all legal avenues” and considered those taking part in it as being “absent without leave”.

“The strike is a violation of all applicable provisions, especially the specific law for the exercise of the right to strike in public facilities,” the ministry said in a statement distributed yesterday.

Mauritanian court clerks yesterday began a month-long strike t to protest against the Justice Department “ignoring the demands” they made earlier.

In its statement, the ministry stressed that it is “keen to ensure that all categories of its employees exercise their freedoms and their trade union rights.”

She stressed that “the court clerks must return to work immediately under the strict application of the relevant legal and regulatory requirements.”

The clerks are calling for the implementation of previous recommendations made by the Supreme Judicial Council concerning the granting of plots of land to them, ensuring internal promotions and guaranteeing the right to continuous training.

The union pointed out that “the door of dialogue and negotiation will remain open with all stakeholders, especially the Ministry of Justice.”