Yemen Workers' Federation Denounces Sana’a-Based Executive Office as Houthi Proxy

The General Federation of Yemeni Workers has formally disavowed a recent statement issued by the organization’s executive office in Sana’a, asserting that the body has been co-opted by Houthi forces and no longer represents the independent labor movement.

In a detailed rebuttal released on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the federation declared that the Sana’a-based leadership lacks legitimacy, having been installed through the forceful seizure of union institutions. The internationally recognized labor body emphasized that its counterpart in the capital does not reflect the democratic will of Yemeni workers, serving instead as a political instrument for the Houthi militia’s agenda.

Addressing allegations regarding the targeting of industrial facilities, the federation condemned any aggression against civilian infrastructure. However, it accused the Houthi militia of repurposing industrial sites and civilian facilities as military installations, including weapon depots, drone manufacturing hubs, and fuel storage for attacks against Yemeni cities and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The federation further cited the transformation of the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports into conduits for arms smuggling and illicit oil trade, warning that such militarization places vital economic assets at extreme risk.

The federation highlighted the severe humanitarian and economic toll of the conflict, accusing the Houthi militia of enforcing a blockade on Taiz and systematically withholding salaries from over 1.2 million public employees. The statement criticized the Sana’a office for its silence regarding widespread labor abuses, including political dismissals, the forced recruitment of children from workers' families, and the detention of female employees. These actions, the federation argued, have exacerbated poverty and decimated the nation’s industrial capacity.

Calling for international intervention, the federation urged global labor organizations and the international community to disregard directives from the Sana’a office, characterizing them as products of a de facto authority rather than genuine labor representation. The federation concluded by reiterating its commitment to the independence of the Yemeni labor movement, demanding an immediate end to the blockade of Taiz and the restoration of worker rights, while vowing that the nation's workforce will not be exploited as human shields for political or military objectives.