In 2018, the Algerian minister for Labour, Mourad Zemali, singled out two independent trade unions for “hounding” the government. 

Along with Rachid Maalaoui, of public sector union Snapap, Raouf Mellal of the energy workers union Snateg was accused of trying to defame Algeria by reporting labour rights violations to the ILO.   

“For having filed complaints with the ILO, I was sued for defamation by the Labour Minister. I was sentenced to six months in prison, but the sentencing was done in absentia. I woke up one morning to find out that I had been sentenced”, says Roauf Mellal through an interpreter.

Read full article published by the Swedish newspaper Arbetet:

Independent trade unions ’fighting for survival’ in Algeria

After the Algerian government singled out union leader Raouf Mellal for “hounding” the government, repression against him intensified. Now Mellal has been forced into exile, while the independent unions in Algeria are fighting for their survival.

https://arbetet.se/2022/03/01/independent-trade-unions-fighting-for-survival-in-algeria/