Unemployment in Occupied Palestinian Territory world's highest: ILO report

GENEVA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) has risen to the world's highest level, at 27.4 percent in 2017, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said Wednesday.

The ILO's annual report says that women and youth are particularly affected. Unemployment rates among Palestinian women are now approaching the 50 percent mark, with rates for youth not far behind.

"The absence of a political and diplomatic process on the basis of the Oslo Accords cements the occupation and impedes Palestinian development," said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in his preface to the report.

He said the Palestinian labor market has deteriorated to lows which should be a deep concern to all involved.

"It is plain to see that the absence of opportunity for young people drives them to desperation," Ryder noted.

Due to the severe lack of job opportunities, it is not surprising that a growing number of Palestinians, particularly the young, are disengaging from the labor market, the report said, adding that labor force participation rates in the OPT are among the lowest in the world.

The report submitted to the ILO's International Labor Conference details the multiple restrictions on economic activity arising from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank,including East Jerusalem.

Most of the occupied land remains effectively off-limits for Palestinians, settlement building is intensifying, and East Jerusalem is cut off from the rest of the West Bank, said the report.

While confrontation is on the rise overall, the report also notes encouraging signs of cooperation regarding work in Israel by Palestinians from the West Bank.

Palestinian employment in the Israeli economy increased again in 2017, by more than 11 percent from the previous year, boosted by additional permits issued by the Israeli authorities, said the ILO. Enditem