Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization: highlights for Monday, 21 March

The morning session will consist of a panel discussion on “Challenges and Change in the Arab World”. Taking part will be H.E. Mr 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). The panel will provide the Working Party with an overview of the various policies, strategies and measures that are being introduced to ensure that the momentous events that are taking place in the Arab World lead to a more equitable future, with sustainable growth and employment at their heart. The role the ILO could play in this endeavour will also be addressed. These interventions will be followed by an exchange of views with the Working Party. During the afternoon session, which will focus on recovery from the global economic crisis, H.E. Mr Valeriano Gómez Sánchez, Minister of Labour and Immigration of Spain, will address the Working Party. Representatives of Indonesia, Brazil and Germany will also present statements. All four countries were the focus of recent ILO country studies. At the end of the afternoon’s discussion, the Representative of France will brief the Working Party on the programme of activities and priorities of the French presidency of the G20.