All ILO Newsroom content

April 2012

Video

Youth Employment in Tunisia

25 April 2012

July 2011

Article

Questions and answers on the ILO response to challenges in the Arab World

08 July 2011

On 8 July 2011, the International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted a meeting on “The Arab World, Towards a New Era of Social Justice”, which brought together representatives of countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the international community, donors and ILO constituents. A background paper entitled “Challenges in the Arab world: an ILO response” on the ILO’s strategy and response was the basis for the discussions. It provides figures and trends on the employment situation and answers a series of questions around creating decent work opportunities in the region. A series of concept notes was also presented, covering areas where the MENA countries have requested ILO assistance. ILO is developing work in the MENA countries and seeks additional funding for some of these programmes.

June 2011

Video

Egyptian Finance Minister Samir Radwan at the International Labour Conference: Fiscal Discipline and Social Justice in a New Egypt

13 June 2011

In his opening remarks to the High Level Panel on 'Employment and Social Justice in a Globalizing Economy', Egyptian Finance Minister Samir Radwan expressed his hopes for post-revolutionary Egypt. He called for responsive economic policies to promote decent work, sustainable development, social protection, and small and medium-sized entreprises.

March 2011

Video interview

Interview with Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union UGTT (in Arabic)

22 March 2011

ILO TV interviewed Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) about the current economic and social situation in Tunisia, the role that trade unions can play and how they see the future of the region.
Video interview

Interview with H.E. Dr Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt

22 March 2011

ILO TV interviewed H.E. Dr Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt about the recent declaration guaranteeing the rights of all Egyptian trade unions to be registered and freely pursue their legitimate activities. He expressed his interest in looking at how social protection measures, skills training and the development of a minimum wage could help tackle unemployment and fight poverty in Egypt. (in French)
Video interview

Interview with Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA)

22 March 2011

ILO TV interviewed Mr. Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA) on the eve of a high-level discussion on "Challenges and Change in the Arab World" held by the ILO Governing Body. Discussing the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, he said that "if the Algerian experience can be of help to these countries which have undergone so much change, we would be happy to cooperate with them". (in French)
Video

Tunisian Trade Unions Working For Peace and Democracy (in Arabic)

21 March 2011

Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) spoke to the ILO Governing Body in a high-level discussion on Challenges and Change in the Arab World. Mr. Jerad thanked the Director-General for his support for the Tunisian revolution and for helping to meet the people's needs for decent work, decent wages and social justice. He referred to the Director-General's statement of 19 January 2011, supporting the demands of the revolutionaries and workers of Tunisia and the workers' movement, and said it had a significant impact coming at a moment when there was no guarantee that the revolution would succeed in its efforts to overthrow the dictatorship and put an end to corruption. Other participants in the discussion included H.E. Dr. Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt; and Mr. Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA).
Video

The Egyptian Revolution as a Model for Peaceful Change (in Arabic)

21 March 2011

H.E. Dr. Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt, spoke to the ILO Governing Body in a high-level discussion on Challenges and Change in the Arab World. He thanked the ILO Director-General for his support and for coming to Egypt to join in their declaration for trade union freedom. He described the Egyptian revolution as a model for "peaceful and rational changes in the region and the whole world" and as the inception of a new development process leading to a better future based on freedom, dignity and social justice. Other participants in the debate included Mr. Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA); and Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT).
Video

The Value of Social Dialogue for Algerian Employers

21 March 2011

Mr. Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA), spoke to the ILO Governing Body in a high-level discussion on Challenges and Change in the Arab World. He discussed the value of social dialogue between governments, employers and workers to “realize social peace and create a climate fostering economic development”. He also welcomed the ILO Director-General’s strategic initiatives in several countries in the region, insisting on values and rights, as “an example of political courage: You were at the right place at the right time, encouraging young people to seek a greater degree of freedom”. Other participants in the debate included H.E. Dr. Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt; and Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT). (in French)
Video

Director-General Juan Somavia says ILO Ready to Assist in Egypt and Tunisia

21 March 2011

Referring to the situations in Egypt and Tunisia the ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia, said it is “a time when all actors of society are called upon to exercise their responsibilities so that they will be on the right side of history being made in front of your eyes by the peaceful, popular expression of the people’s will”, adding that “we at the ILO must be ready to assist them”. The Director-General spoke to the ILO Governing Body introducing a high-level discussion on Challenges and Change in the Arab World. Panel participants included H.E. Dr. Ahmed El-Borai, Minister of Manpower and Migration of Egypt; Mr. Habib Yousfi, President of the General Confederation of Algerian Enterprises (CGEA); and Mr. Abdessalem Jerad, General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT).