All news: Arab States

Refine results
Date of publication
Transnational Company Agreements in 2025 focused on fundamental rights, safety at work, and due diligence
Transnational Company Agreements illustration

Transnational Company Agreements in 2025 focused on fundamental rights, safety at work, and due diligence

The recently updated section of the ILO Repository on Cross-Border Social Dialogue identified environmental issues and technological changes as priorities.

The United Arab Emirates ratifies the Protocol to Convention No. 29, reaffirming its commitment to fight against forced labour
Ratification ceremony of the Protocol to Convention No. 29, 15 January 2026: Mr Jamal Al Musharakh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, and Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO.

The United Arab Emirates ratifies the Protocol to Convention No. 29, reaffirming its commitment to fight against forced labour

The United Arab Emirates becomes the sixty third country worldwide and the second among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to ratify this instrument.

PROSPECTS Partnership in Jordan: Highlights from the year
woman inside a greenhouse in Jordan

Video

PROSPECTS Partnership in Jordan: Highlights from the year

Since 2019, the PROSPECTS Partnership has been strengthening opportunities for refugees and host communities across Jordan—supporting skills, jobs, protection, and resilience for a more inclusive future.

Building a safety culture in Lebanon’s greenhouse sector
On-site assembly: wokers fastening metal tubing to the greenhouse structure, equipped with essential personal protective equipment PPE suitable for installation work.2025

Occupational safety and health

Building a safety culture in Lebanon’s greenhouse sector

New OSH guidelines and on-site awareness sessions are helping greenhouse manufacturers and installers adopt safer practices across Lebanon.

From displacement to employment: Syrians build better lives through decent work in Jordan’s Zaatari Camp
Tailor Hanan Khaled Al-Khawalda plays with her two-year-old son, Ahmad, in the patio of their home in Jordan’s Za’atari camp for Syrian refugees on October 28, 2025.

From displacement to employment: Syrians build better lives through decent work in Jordan’s Zaatari Camp

ILO employment services are helping Syrian refugees like Hanan and Malika access training and secure jobs, while also supporting Syrians wishing to return to their country.

Between work and school: The struggle of children in Lebanon’s agricultural fields
Syrian agricultural worker Aisha Al Mohammed and her youngest son sit inside a tent in their informal settlement in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. December, 15, 2025

Article

Between work and school: The struggle of children in Lebanon’s agricultural fields

The ILO, through the PROSPECTS partnership, is supporting Lebanese and Syrian children, families and communities to combat child labour across Lebanon’s agricultural areas.

Oman hosts the Gulf region’s first training workshop on monitoring and evaluating social protection systems
A group of men and women pose for a photo after training in Oman

Oman hosts the Gulf region’s first training workshop on monitoring and evaluating social protection systems

The training advances inclusive social protection in Oman, including for migrant workers, by strengthening monitoring and evaluation capacities for social protection systems.

ILO constituents and partners strengthen knowledge on the social and solidarity economy to advance social justice

ILO constituents and partners strengthen knowledge on the social and solidarity economy to advance social justice

The ILO convened a technical knowledge-sharing event in Turin, bringing together constituents and partners from countries where it has been actively supporting the promotion of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) for social justice. Participants...

From registration to return: Strengthening overseas employment governance in Bangladesh with ILO support
Launching of OEP

Labour migration

From registration to return: Strengthening overseas employment governance in Bangladesh with ILO support

Oman’s labour reform momentum sets a strong example for the region, says ILO Director-General
Director-General Houngbo meeting with DPM for Defence Affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, receiving on behalf of the ILO the Sultan of Oman’s Medal in recognition of strong Oman-ILO partnership. Muscat 15/12/25

Oman’s labour reform momentum sets a strong example for the region, says ILO Director-General

Gilbert F. Houngbo commends Oman’s rapid progress on labour law implementation, social protection expansion and structured social dialogue during an official visit to the Sultanate.

Arab States strengthen labour governance through first regional tripartite workshop on international labour standards
A group photo of ILO and MOL officials during the opening of International Labour Standards

Arab States strengthen labour governance through first regional tripartite workshop on international labour standards

The ILO Director-General took part in the meeting, where governments, employers and workers developed a shared understanding and capacity to apply international labour standards in a changing world of work.

ILO workshop presents new insights on labour force participation and informality
Group of participants pose for a photo

ILO workshop presents new insights on labour force participation and informality

The Labour Supply Microsimulation Model provides insights into the role of policy incentives in labour market outcomes.

Chamber of Commerce of Aden and ILO join efforts for humanitarian relief and economic recovery
Business representatives at workshop, resource person speaks to them, with his laptop open and a big scream in the background

Employers’ and business membership organizations

Chamber of Commerce of Aden and ILO join efforts for humanitarian relief and economic recovery

The ILO is building the institutional capacity of employers’ organizations like the Aden Chamber and Yemeni Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture (FYCCI), enabling them to lead dialogue, advocate for business interests, and drive inclusive recovery...

Historic alleyways restored in Lebanon’s coastal city of Jounieh, creating jobs and reviving heritage
Cutting ribbon for inaugartion with a group

Historic alleyways restored in Lebanon’s coastal city of Jounieh, creating jobs and reviving heritage

Germany and the ILO's partnership improved urban infrastructure in Jounieh, provided thousands of workdays for local vulnerable workers and preserved the city’s old town character.

ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities concludes two online validation workshops on strengthening labour functions in employers’...
People appear in pictures in triangle shapes. One women in a laboratory coat smile while holding a microscope, a male and female nurse, a women wearing a black traditional Arab robe, a man and a women in a construction site, a man wearing traditional white Arab costume working in a laboratory.

Employers and Business Membership Organization - capacity building

ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities concludes two online validation workshops on strengthening labour functions in employers’...

Strengthening labour functions in employers’ and business membership organizations in the Arab States

Qatar Foundation and the International Labour Organization partner to help shape the future of Qatar’s workforce
ILO and QF team taking a group photo during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between QF and the ILO during the recent WISE 12 Summit in Doha, hosted by QF’s global education initiative WISE. Doha, Qatar November 2025

Qatar Foundation and the International Labour Organization partner to help shape the future of Qatar’s workforce

Insights from Qatar Foundation alumni will be harnessed to develop policy briefs covering key employment areas – from skills gaps and talent retention to gender equality

A chance to work again helped Raymond Khoury reclaim his independence
Raymond Khoury working while on his wheelchair

International Day of Persons with Disability

A chance to work again helped Raymond Khoury reclaim his independence

A former shop owner lost his business after sustaining a disability. But through the ILO’s German-funded Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme in Lebanon, he discovered that inclusive workplaces can restore dignity, independence and...

From overlooked to job-ready: Training equips jobseekers with disabilities for decent work in Lebanon
Participants celebrate completing the Career Preparedness Training with their certificates. Beirut, Lebanon. November 2025

International Day of Persons with Disability

From overlooked to job-ready: Training equips jobseekers with disabilities for decent work in Lebanon

Testimonies from persons with disabilities in Lebanon tell of how training provided by the EU-funded ENABLE Programme helped them regain confidence, develop skills and pursue decent work opportunities.

ILO strengthens employment services and labour-market links in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region and Ninewa province
woman participant speaking at the workshop

News

ILO strengthens employment services and labour-market links in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region and Ninewa province

Training series equips Public Employment Services and Career Development Centres to improve job matching and workforce support.

ILO, Ministry of Youth and UNICEF train facilitators to support young job seekers in Iraq
Group photo of facilitators and partners at the conclusion of the intensive Job Search Clubs training in Erbil

ILO, Ministry of Youth and UNICEF train facilitators to support young job seekers in Iraq

Intensive programme builds national capacity to deliver effective employment support for Iraqi youth.