METI 2nd Knowledge-Sharing Workshop: Collaborating to include employment targets in trade and investment policies in Southern Mediterranean Countries

From September 30 to October 2, 2024, METI’s second regional knowledge-sharing workshop gathered 21 key stakeholders at the Dead Sea, Jordan. Representatives from governments, trade unions, employers, and the private sector joined forces to better align trade and investment policies with employment goals, driving sustainable development across the Southern Mediterranean.

On the opening day of the knowledge-sharing workshop Ms. Mito Tsukamoto, Chief of ILO’s EMPINVEST Branch, and Ms. Mary Horvers, Team Leader for Governance and Human Development at the EU Delegation to Jordan, delivered welcoming remarks. They emphasized the vital role of trade and investment in employment and highlighted social dialogue among key stakeholders as essential for creating more and decent jobs.

The workshop examined the regional impact of trade and investment policies on employment, discussed the effectiveness of current approaches, and identified both challenges and opportunities for integrating employment goals. Participants shared country experiences in areas such as social protection, trade, and value chain development, offering insights for more inclusive policies.

Action plan draft: Embedding employment in trade and investment policies

During the workshop, a strategic action plan was drafted building on the discussions of METI’s 2023 first knowledge-sharing workshop in Turin. This plan emphasizes sustainable job creation, poverty reduction, and improved livelihoods, addressing both immediate and long-term challenges.

A key series of sessions leading to the Action Plan examined the intersections of trade, investment, and employment. Martin Ostermeier, ILO’s METI Project Manager, explored the opportunities and challenges of trade and investment in shaping employment outcomes. Another session focused on designing trade policies to create better jobs by addressing bottlenecks and the role of key stakeholders in integrating employment considerations. Finally, Dr. Murad Samhouri and Heba Helmy, ILO Consultants on Value Chain Analysis in Jordan and Egypt respectively, highlighted the role of value chains in job creation, identifying barriers and proposing actionable measures. These discussions culminated in a group exercise to align employment priorities with trade policies, investment strategies, value chains, and regional integration, which gave birth to the first draft of the Action Plan.

© METI/ILO

© METI/ILO

About METI

METI is a four-year regional programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization. It aims to enable policy makers in the Southern Mediterranean region to incorporate an employment perspective into trade and investment policies. This will support the design and implementation of trade and investment strategies that optimize the quantity and quality of employment creation in the region.