Doha, Qatar: Under the auspices of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Doha hosted Thursday the ministerial session of the 6th Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM), convened under the theme: "Local Experiences, Global Achievements: Success Stories from the Islamic World."
The meeting was chaired by Minister of Labour and Chair of the 6th ICLM HE Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, following Qatar's election by OIC member states. The meeting brought together ministers, heads of delegations from OIC countries, representatives of international and regional organisations, experts, academics, and civil society actors.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Al Marri underscored the critical juncture at which the conference takes place, amid mounting economic and social pressures, rapid technological shifts, climate-related challenges, supply chain disruptions, and evolving political dynamics affecting human security and livelihoods.
He stressed that the ICLM embodies the collective commitment of OIC member states to harmonize efforts in advancing labour policies, employment strategies, and social protection measures, ensuring justice, dignity, and opportunity for all citizens across the Islamic world.
Highlighting the ongoing significance of the Palestinian issue, His Excellency reaffirmed the OIC's enduring role as a unified voice defending the just causes of the Islamic world. He called for expanded access to decent work, social protection, and economic opportunity for the Palestinian people, free from blockade, occupation, and humanitarian constraints.
Empowering the Palestinian population to live with dignity and access fair employment is both a humanitarian and moral obligation, he noted, forming a cornerstone of the ICLM's mission, which unites member states under principles of justice and Islamic solidarity.
Addressing global labour market transformations, Dr. Al Marri observed that digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and the green economy are reshaping the nature of work and the skills required. He urged OIC countries to act decisively to upskill their national workforces, strengthen technical and vocational education, and ensure inclusive social protection systems.
He added that Qatar, through the reforms spearheaded by the Ministry of labour, has established a model labour market built on human empowerment, rights protection, and skills development, reflecting the Qatar National Vision 2030, which positions the human being at the heart of national development.
For his part, HE Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan and Chair of the 5th ICLM, Anar Aliyev highlighted that the OIC's efforts to guarantee core labour rights underscore the organisation's deep commitment to human values.
He emphasised the conference as a vital platform for sharing perspectives on current and emerging labour challenges, noting the importance of youth investment, vocational education, and market-oriented training in fostering sustainable economic growth.
HE Aliyev also called on OIC member states to ratify the Statute of the OIC Labour Centre, reinforcing cooperation in labour and social development.
In turn, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, Ahmed Kouisa Singindo expressed hope that the conference would result in practical policy solutions to tackle prevailing challenges and reduce unemployment across member states through enhanced cooperation and coordination.
He noted that labour markets worldwide are undergoing profound changes driven by technological progress, global economic shifts, and demographic trends, creating uncertainty and additional burdens for governments in ensuring adequate and sustainable employment.
He underlined that unemployment rates in many OIC countries remain a serious concern, exceeding global averages, due to limited labour absorption, skills mismatches, low productivity, macroeconomic instability, seasonal employment, and political conflicts in some regions.
Concluding, Singindo reaffirmed the OIC Secretariat's commitment to working closely with member states, intensifying efforts to address unemployment, and creating an enabling environment for decent work and equal opportunity for all citizens.
The ICLM continues to serve as a premier platform for experience-sharing, partnership-building, and policy coordination among OIC member states, addressing current and future labour market challenges, promoting effective employment policies, and enhancing national human capital.
Qatar's hosting of the conference highlights its leadership in fostering regional cooperation, advancing inclusive labour markets, and supporting economic empowerment and social development across the Islamic world.
