GENEVA (ILO News) – The Arab Labour Organization (ALO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) agreed here today to strengthen their collaboration and partnership.
Ahmad Mohammad Luqman, Director-General of the ALO, and Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) renewing the commitment of both organizations to address labour and employment priorities in the Arab Region, and to promote social dialogue through a revitalised partnership.
“This agreement underscores the ILO’s commitment to the critical priorities of women and men throughout the Arab world”, Mr. Somavia said. “It is focused on concrete action in a number of areas including creating employment opportunities for young people and women, expanding social protection, ensuring social dialogue and promoting rights at work. We pledge to work together on the next generation of initiatives to promote decent work for all.”
The purpose of the MOU is to facilitate and strengthen collaboration between ILO and ALO in matters of common interest to their respective member countries. The partnership is based on a common focus of both organizations to promote social justice and decent work for all. It is expected that this partnership will expand and consolidate efforts of the two organizations to support governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations to effectively engage in the promotion of the Decent Work Agenda and the implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DCWPs).
Mr. Luqman in turn referred to the fundamental transformation in the Arab world’s patterns of work and production as a consequence of globalisation and the region’s intersection at the heart of the Asian, African and European continents. “Our cooperation with the ILO”, he confirmed, “will be critical for the reduction of unemployment, especially that of educated youth and women, as well as expanding social protection for national and expatriate work forces, while strengthening labour administration and enhancing the roles of employers and workers within a framework of constructive social dialogue.”
Under the MOU, ALO and ILO will deepen their collaboration at the regional, national and institutional level. At the regional level, they will develop and promote policies and procedures related to employment promotion, international labour standards and fundamental principles and rights at work, gender, social protection, and social dialogue. At the country level, they will support joint initiatives to promote and implement Decent Work Country Programmes. Activities at the institutional level include human resources development, training, studies, research and information exchange on best practices, giving particular importance to documentation for Arab speaking countries.
A first step in the new collaborative effort between the two organizations will be the Tripartite Interregional Meeting on “Occupational Safety and Health in the Arab States”, that will take place in Damascus this month.
The MOU will be implemented through a two-year workplan which will consolidate a joint vision of the targeted socio-economic progress in the Arab Region.