Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar hosted the 10th meeting of the Committee of Undersecretaries of Labour Ministries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday, as a preparatory session for the upcoming meeting of GCC Ministers of Labour to be held in Doha on Wednesday.
The meeting was led by Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, assistant undersecretary for expatriate labour affairs at the Ministry of Labour (MoL). It was attended by Undersecretaries of the GCC Ministries of Labour, Khaled Ali bin Salem Al-Senaidi, assistant secretary-general for economic and development affairs at the GCC Secretariat, and Mohammed bin Hassan Al Obaidli, director-general of the executive bureau of the council of ministers of labour and ministers of social affairs in the GCC.
The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in the labour sector, including the strategic plans of the Committee of Labour Ministers, international cooperation, the United Nations Business and Human Rights Principles, and the Gulf Framework for Combating Forced Labour and Human Trafficking.
Sheikha Najwa highlighted the importance of these annual meetings for sharing experiences, ideas, and developing strategies to enhance cooperation on labour issues within the Gulf countries. She emphasised the need to strengthen labour market flexibility to address rapid changes and youth challenges by promoting international labour standards, improving regulatory labour laws, empowering women in the workforce, and creating new labour markets driven by technological advancements and digital transformation.
She also drew attention to the plight of workers in Palestine, calling on governments, organisations, and international labour unions to intensify efforts to end the suffering of workers in Gaza and the occupied Arab territories. This includes addressing severe violations, deteriorating economic conditions, and advocating for the implementation of international resolutions to end the occupation.
Khaled Ali bin Salem Al-Senaidi praised the efforts of the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is also the Chairman of the current session of the GCC Supreme Council, along with other GCC leaders, for their support of joint Gulf action.
The meeting covered various labour-related topics, including decisions of the Supreme Council and strategic initiatives of the GCC Labour Ministers Committee.
The session concluded with several recommendations, which will be presented at the upcoming meeting of the GCC Ministers of Labour on Wednesday.