Employment at the center of the first official visit of the ILO DG in Morocco

During his official visit to Morocco, from 29 February to 3 March, the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, met in Rabat the Moroccan authorities and the tripartite constituents before taking part in the International Forum on employment policies in Marrakech.

Press release | 03 March 2016
ALGIERS / RABAT / MARRAKECH (ILO News) - The Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder, met in Rabat senior government officials of Morocco, including Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Chafik Rachadi and the tripartite constituents.

On the occasion of this first official visit to Morocco, Mr. Ryder also attended the official signing ceremony of an agreement between the ILO and the Moroccan Foundation for Financial Education on several areas that have targeted interventions for youth and women, migrants, entrepreneurs in mainly small businesses, micro entrepreneurs and self entrepreneurs.

'' For our organization, financial inclusion is a means to promote sustainable economic growth combining economic efficiency and social justice and contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Decent Work for All '' said Guy Ryder.

This agreement must be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry for Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Handicraft and Social Economy and Solidarity and the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs.

On 2 and 3 March in Marrakech, Ryder took part in the third International Forum on employment policies aimed at promoting sustainable growth through the implementation of policies and inclusive labor market institutions.

The conference - organized by the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs of Morocco, in collaboration with the ILO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - focus on good practices in the context of macroeconomic and employment policies that could reduce inequalities.

"It is urgent to act," insisted Guy Ryder in his speech. "We need a strong political response, increase productive employment, strengthen global demand, support wages and employment growth, while fighting inequalities and exclusion," he said.

The expert sessions were devoted to economic integration of young people into the labor market, promoting greater gender equality and the impact of labor markets on migrant workers.

For further information, please contact: Amine Roukhi, ILO Office for the Maghreb countries: roukhi@ilo.org, Tel: + 213 21 79 44 88 and / or Guebray Berhane, ILO Regional Office for Africa: guebray@ilo.org, Tel: + 251 115 444 415.