RAMALLAH, West Bank — On Sept. 29, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas approved the social security law, which the Palestinian government had referred to him on Sept. 27. Abbas approved the new amendments that were made following discussions between the ministerial committee, which was set up by the government on April 21 to specifically follow up on this law, the National Campaign for Social Security, trade unions, the private sector, economists and legal experts, under the auspices of the Palestinian Legislative Council’s (PLC) parliamentary blocs.

Some provisions of the social security law, which the government had approved Feb. 16, were amended after popular protests were organized by the National Campaign for Social Security, which includes trade unions and civil institutions. The latest protests were held in front of the Cabinet in Ramallah on April 19 and May 10.

The new law was widely welcomed by the many parties Al-Monitor spoke with, including the National Campaign for Social Security — one of the largest civil society campaigns launched on April 5 — the parliamentary blocs that participated in drafting and amending the law, and the Palestinian government.

Secretary of the National Campaign for Social Security Iyad Riyahi told Al-Monitor that the amendments would not have been made had it not been for the campaign they launched.