HE Minister of Labour and Chairperson of the 111th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri said that the international community places its trust in the State of Qatar’s safe work environment and the outstanding advancements it has made in labour sector development.
His Excellency pointed out that entrusting Qatar with the presidency of the 111th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) signifies international acknowledgment of its accomplishments in labour sector development and its initiatives to establish a secure and healthy work environment.
Speaking, exclusively to QNA, HE the Minister affirmed the State of Qatar’s keenness to activating effective partnership with international organizations and bodies to improve the work environment and conditions, pointing out that partnership with various international organizations has contributed to the consolidation of Qatar’s active role in international forums related to the labor sector during the past years.
On the relationship between the Ministry of Labour and the International Labor Organization (ILO), His Excellency stated that the relationship between the two parties is based on partnership, especially since the organization is a witness to the progress made in the Qatari labor market, which in turn reinforced the continuous technical cooperation program between the two parties.
In particular, the two sides agree to continue working together in the areas of labor reform, including occupational safety and health, intensifying efforts to combat forced labor and human trafficking, enhancing international cooperation and exchanging experiences, and developing effective and comprehensive labor market policies that contribute to building a more competitive knowledge economy.
He added that the success of the labour reforms established a valuable experience that can be replicated in other countries, stressing that the State of Qatar is moving steadily in labour sector reforms in line with the main principles of the Qatar National Vision 2030, and in commitment to building a modern and dynamic labour market.
Regarding the current session of the conference, HE the Minister said that this year’s conference agenda entailed an evaluation of the Director General’s report on the progress of social justice, a report scrutinizing the circumstances of workers in the occupied Arab territories, reports on apprenticeships and gender parity, laborer’s social protection, and strategies to facilitate a fair transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for everyone.
He revealed that the report of the ILO Director-General highlighted social justice and the need for more work to consolidate it and promote decent work worldwide, in order to achieve its desired goals, in addition to the need to form a broad global alliance to support multilateral cooperation for social justice, as this is a goal that the State of Qatar seeks to achieve through its presidency of the current session of the conference.
He referred to the numerous challenges facing the global labor market, including high unemployment rates, weak minimum wages, lack of coverage for some with health and social security insurance, exposure to injury, and various risks during work, in addition to the lack of occupational safety and health measures in the workplace.
Concluding his remarks to QNA, HE Dr. Al Marri referred to other challenges, such as abolishing restrictions on women’s work and providing legal protection to, as well as allowing freedom of trade unions in accordance with international agreements.
He explained that achieving these matters requires concerted efforts of the three business partners present at the conference: (governments, employers and trade unions) in order to improve the legislative system and provide a safe work environment, which positively affects the production process.
The International Labour Conference (ILC), or what is known as the International Parliament of Labour, is held annually in Geneva to set the general policies of the International Labour Organization (ILO), including agreements and recommendations.
The ILC is the highest decision-making authority in the ILO and provides an effective platform through which governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations of member states can hold tripartite discussions on social and Labour issues.
This year’s session of the conference brought together more than 5,000 participants, including heads of state and government, relevant ministers of member states and representatives of employers and workers in addition to international, governmental and labor organizations.
Source: Qatar News Agency