His Excellency the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, headed the Kingdom's delegation participating in the 50^th session of the Arab Labor Conference, which began its work today, Saturday 27 April 2024 AD, in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq, in the presence and participation of Their Excellences Ministers of Labor, heads and members of delegations from employers' organizations and labor unions in 21 Arab countries, representatives of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, and Arab and international organizations.

The opening session of the conference was attended by H.E. Eng. Mohammed Shi'a Al Sudani, Prime Minister and Patron of the conference, H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, and H.E. Gilbert Houngbo, Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

During the general session of the conference, H.E. Dr. Abuthnain delivered a speech in which he explained the importance of early and targeted qualification and training for the labour market that focuses on technical, personal and social skills and modern work patterns.

His Excellency also noted that the Kingdom, with the support of the wise leadership, has paid great attention to investing in human resources development through the vision programs and the labour market strategy and its initiatives.

He also referred to the Ministry's initiative to hold the International Labour Market Conference in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, with the participation of a group of international experts and specialists to anticipate and plan for future changes in the labour market. 

Participants in the conference, which runs until May 4, will discuss the report of the Director-General of the ILO entitled “The Future of Human Resources in Light of the Technological Revolution”, as well as issues related to Arab labour and organizational files related to the ILO's working mechanisms, in addition to discussing the arrangement and coordination of Arab participation in the upcoming International Labour Conference organized  by the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO), which is scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is worth mentioning that the Arab Labour Organization is one of the organizations of the League of Arab States, which was established in 1965, and is the first specialized Arab organization concerned with labour and workers' affairs at the level of the Arab world.