Arab Youth Trade Union Conference Convenes in Tunis with Bold Recommendations on Digital and Climate Transitions and Platform Workers’ Rights

Tunis, July 18–19, 2025
The Arab Youth Trade Union Regional Conference was held on July 18–19, 2025, in Tunis under the theme: “Arab Youth Trade Unionists: Leaders of Just Transitions.” The event brought together a wide range of youth union representatives from across the Arab world.

The conference featured in-depth discussions on the pressing challenges facing Arab labor markets in light of rapid digital and climate transitions, emphasizing the need to strengthen the role of youth in leading fair and inclusive transformations that protect their economic and social rights.

Participants issued a bold set of recommendations across four key thematic areas:
• Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence:
The conference called for formal regulation of platform workers’ status and full recognition of their rights. It endorsed the newly adopted ILO convention on platform work as a common reference for Arab unions and recommended launching a regional database of digital platforms and initiating collective bargaining around AI governance.
• Occupational Safety and Health (OSH):
Youth unionists advocated for a review of the mandates of safety committees and for the expansion of occupational disease lists to include psychological disorders linked to new forms of work. They also called for ratification of relevant international OSH conventions.
• Just Transition and Green Jobs:
The conference stressed the importance of integrating just transition principles into national climate policies, supporting green vocational training programs, and establishing an Arab Youth Trade Union Committee on Climate Justice.
• Strengthening Youth Union Membership:
Participants recommended modernizing union communication tools, increasing youth representation in decision-making structures, launching a regional platform for youth trade union committees, and creating an Arab observatory to monitor youth labor issues.

In a related statement, participants expressed deep concern over the international silence regarding Israeli crimes in Gaza, reaffirming their solidarity with the Palestinian people. They called on global unions to halt arms shipments to the occupying regime and to actively support the Palestinian cause in all international arenas.

The conference concluded with the announcement of a forthcoming regional follow-up mechanism to ensure the implementation of the adopted recommendations. Arab youth trade unionists reaffirmed their commitment to the fight for decent work, just transitions, and meaningful social partnership to secure a better future for youth across the region.

👉 Access the conference training materials via the link below: