The Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) is a regional organization dedicated to defending the economic, social, and human rights of workers throughout the Arab region. With more than 20 affiliated national trade union centers representing over 7 million workers across countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, and Bahrain, ATUC serves as a unifying voice for Arab workers. The Confederation places particular emphasis on protecting migrant workers and those from marginalized or vulnerable social groups.
Founded on the principles of democracy, independence, solidarity, and social justice, ATUC is committed to promoting and safeguarding trade union rights and freedoms. It advocates for decent work and equitable labor relations grounded in the principles of social dialogue and collective bargaining. Through its action, ATUC works to strengthen equality, challenge all forms of discrimination, promote gender justice, and build regional trade union solidarity. The Confederation aligns its work with the broader objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to labor rights, inclusive development, and decent living conditions.
ATUC’s core mission is to defend the right of all workers to freely organize in democratic, independent, and transparent trade unions. It seeks to unify the democratic Arab trade union movement in response to the multiple challenges facing the region. ATUC promotes social justice, democracy, and good governance, and strives for a more equitable distribution of national wealth. It aims to ensure decent work and dignified living for all workers by enhancing labor relations and protecting the fundamental rights of workers, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social protection.
The Confederation plays a central role in defending public and individual freedoms, particularly trade union rights such as the freedom of association, freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to strike. It is firmly committed to promoting equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination based on gender, race, religion, language, social status, cultural background, or geographic origin. ATUC affirms the right of women to full equality and active participation in leadership positions within the workplace, trade unions, and representative institutions, while combating all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination.
ATUC advocates for the protection of the economic, social, and cultural rights of all workers, and actively supports institutionalized social dialogue and collective bargaining as key mechanisms for achieving stable and just labor relations. It considers Arab economic integration a vital step toward achieving comprehensive and sustainable development. The Confederation opposes all forms of human trafficking, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and abusive outsourcing practices. It defends the rights of migrant workers and denounces the systemic exploitation and discrimination they often face.
In response to the widespread challenges of unemployment, informality, and youth exclusion, ATUC is strongly engaged in promoting youth employment and advancing the rights of young workers within trade unions and the broader labor market. It also actively works to eradicate poverty, hunger, oppression, corruption, inequality, and all forms of exploitation. The Confederation stands firmly against child labor and defends the rights of domestic workers and forcibly displaced children, as well as those exposed to any form of abuse.
ATUC calls for the formulation of comprehensive and inclusive development policies across Arab countries that prioritize social democracy and ensure the fair distribution of resources while safeguarding the dignity of all workers. The Confederation actively builds regional and international solidarity with labor movements struggling for justice and freedom, and it fosters partnerships with civil society organizations that share its values and vision.
In addition, ATUC defends the rights of persons with disabilities, promotes their full inclusion in the world of work, and supports retirees by working to organize and protect their interests. The Confederation rejects all forms of colonialism and foreign intervention, and it supports the legitimate struggles of peoples for sovereignty and self-determination, including the right of the Palestinian people to liberate their land and establish an independent and sovereign state.
These principles and objectives guide the work of the Arab Trade Union Confederation, defining its role as a key regional actor committed to social justice, democratic participation, and the defense of workers’ rights in all Arab countries.
