Arab Trade Unions Federation Condemns Crackdown on Foreign Workers in Libya and Calls for an End to Rights Violations
In a deeply concerning move, Libyan authorities launched a security campaign targeting undocumented foreign workers, resulting in the detention of over 1,500 workers in various areas, particularly in the suburbs of the capital, Tripoli.
This campaign comes at a sensitive time, as Libya has entered the shortlist of countries with the most severe labor rights violations during the 2025 International Labour Conference, highlighting the deteriorating conditions of workers in the country and raising questions about the government’s commitment to its international labor obligations.
Today, Libya hosts thousands of migrants from Africa who work in the informal sector, most of whom are exposed to exploitation and mistreatment, including human trafficking and forced displacement, in addition to unsafe working conditions and lack of legal protection.
In a controversial step, some Libyan parties have called for imposing taxes on foreign workers and expelling them, further threatening their humanitarian situation and increasing their exposure to exploitation.
The Arab Trade Unions Federation strongly condemns this campaign and emphasizes the need to respect the rights of foreign workers in Libya, in line with international conventions such as ILO Convention No. 143 on Migrant Workers. The Federation also calls on Libyan authorities to immediately end this campaign, release all detained workers, and ensure they are not subjected to any form of discrimination or harsh treatment.
In this context, the Arab Trade Unions Federation urges the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the international community to pressure the Libyan government to comply with international labor standards and to work on improving conditions for foreign workers in the country.
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