Thousands protest social security law in Ramallah

Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of Ramallah yesterday to protest against the social security law proposed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), Arab48 reported.

Despite heavy rains, thousands of the protesters gathered in the main square in the centre of the city, holding umbrellas, and called for the PA to cancel the law, not simply modify it.

The protest started with the Palestinian national anthem and reading from the Quran.

According to the news website, protesters called for ousting the government, as well as delegitimising the Union of Syndicates of Palestinian Workers over its collusion with the government.

According to the new law, all workers are subject to the same percentage of contribution to the Social Security Corporation, with no clauses which provide for workers who receive minimum wage.

Additionally, the families of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation may not be eligible to receive benefits from the Social Security Corporation which limits benefactors to those who have lost a family member to natural causes or “due to work injury”.

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