On this International Workers’ Day, we shed light on the struggles of women workers across the SWANA (SouthWest Asia and North Africa) region, who face unequal wages, workplace abuse, and discrimination. Women are foundational to economic growth and stability across the world, particularly in SWANA region, yet they receive the least protection. They must still fight not only for fair wages, but also for the right to work free from exploitation, discrimination, and violence—with dignity and respect
From domestic workers in Lebanon, often employed without contracts, to agricultural laborers in Morocco, enduring long hours and unsafe conditions, women are overwhelmingly concentrated in precarious, informal jobs.
According to a 2024 report by Zoomit , Iranian women earned, on average, 28 percent less than men last year. They continue to face legal and social barriers that restrict their participation in the labor force, and those who organize for their rights risk imprisonment. In recent years, there have been tens of labor strikes across various sectors, with thousands of women teachers bravely leading protests demanding fair wages, job security, and respect. Several women labor rights activists, including Anisha Asadollahi, Sepideh Gholian, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, remain imprisoned for their commitment to exposing injustice.
On this day, We honor these women, as well as countless Palestinian women striving to survive under occupation, balancing unpaid care work with fragmented labor opportunities.
In Syria, after the collapse of the Assad regime, the transitional government dismissed over 250000 of public sector workers- teachers, medical professionals and civil servants, according to reports, leaving them without income or support in very dire economic conditions. Many were dismissed on the basis of their identity, particularly from the Alawite sect or assumed political affiliation. These large -scale dismissal sparked wide outrage and protests, as the loss of employment—despite already meager monthly salaries of just $20 to $35—pushed workers further into poverty and instability. Women were particularly affected, as their ability to reach alternative income is often limited by gender-based restrictions, insecurity and social norms. In response to the growing protest, the transitional government was forced to restore many workers and revaluate its employment policies. Still, the long-term consequences for women’s economic participation and independence remain deeply concerning.
In Turkey, women face increasing state control over their bodies and labor. While the government pushes pronatalist policies, many women endure low-paid, insecure jobs in sectors like textiles and domestic work, often without proper legal protections.
In Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, women are banned from working in most sectors, stripping them of economic independence and rights— including restricted roles in the health sector, which ultimately threatens women’s right to life. Their exclusion represents one of the harshest forms of labor repression in the world today.
Despite these grave challenges, feminist movements across the SWANA region continue to resist. From Sudanese women demanding fair wages in the aftermath of revolution, to Tunisian women in labor unions pushing for gender-sensitive agreements, the fight for justice continues.
This May 1st, we demand:
- The immediate release of all women labor rights defenders imprisoned for their activism.
- An end to discriminatory laws and directives that restrict women’s right to work.
- Equal pay, safe working conditions, and full labor protections for all women workers;
Formal recognition of domestic and care work as essential, paid labor with legal rights and protections;