The labor ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states held a meeting with the Director General-elect of the U.N. International Labor Organization (ILO) during the World Government Summit, today in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Chaired by Dr Mahad bin Said Baawain, the Minister of Labour of the Sultanate of Oman and Chairman of the current session, the meeting with ILO Director-General-elect Gilbert Houngbo saw the participation of Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdul Mannan Al Awar, the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the United Arab Emirates; Jameel bin Mohammed Humaidan, the minister of Labor of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, the Minister of Labor of the State of Qatar; and Engineer Mai Jassim Al Baghli, the Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development and Minister of State for Women and Childhood Affairs of the State of Kuwait. GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi also participated. At the beginning of the meeting, GCC labor ministers congratulated Albudaiwi on the assumption of his duties as Secretary General of the Cooperation Council, wishing him more success in his career. Several issues of common interest were discussed during the meeting, including sharing views on the opportunities and prospects for enhancing cooperation between the GCC countries and the ILO, the foremost of which addresses the latest developments in the GCC labor markets. The meeting concluded with an agreement on the cooperation program between the ILO and the GCC Labor Ministries to accomplish common interests. For his part, the GCC Secretary General praised the sincere efforts made by the GCC member states in the labor system and keeping up with the laws in line with international standards and systems in a way that contributes to strengthening the process of joint Gulf action to achieve the noble goals towards more cooperation and integration among the countries of the Council, especially the systems of the ILO. Furthermore, he expressed his pride in the endeavors made by the GCC countries toward implementing international labor laws.
