Cairo, September 13 (QNA) - The State of Qatar is participated in the 52nd session of the Arab Labour Conference, underway in Cairo with the participation of Their Excellencies the heads and members of delegations and representatives of the tripartite constituents from Arab countries, alongside representatives of relevant Arab and international organisations.

HE Minister of Labour, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri headed the Qatari delegation to the conference.

The Conference is discussing the report of the Director-General of the Arab Labour Organisation on the Organisation's activities and achievements during 2025, in addition to a number of reports and files referred to the current session. These include the outcomes of the 45th session of the Committee on Trade Union Freedoms, held in Cairo in April 2026, and the outcomes of the 24th session

of the Arab Committee for Women's Labour Affairs, held in Kuwait last December.

Addressing the Plenary Session of the Conference, HE Minister of Labour, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri affirmed that the Arab Labour Conference is being held against a backdrop of highly delicate and complex regional circumstances, with tensions and conflicts across the region affecting the security and stability of its countries and having repercussions for development, the economy and labour markets.

He explained that recent developments have clearly demonstrated that the impact of crises does not stop at the borders of countries directly affected, but extends across the region through their repercussions on trade and transport flows, supply chains, energy markets, and the costs of production and investment. This, in turn, affects the ability of economies and labour markets to maintain employment levels and create new and sustainable job opportunities.

His Excellency noted that the State of Qatar reaffirms that regional security and stability are fundamental pillars of sustainable development and labour market stability, and that de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, and peaceful solutions are essential to protecting the peoples of the region and safeguarding their development gains.

He noted that the Director-General's report likewise highlighted the challenges facing Arab countries as a result of conflicts and instability, as well as the need for development models that are more resilient and better able to respond to changing circumstances.

He explained that the State of Qatar has placed people at the heart of its development policies, as embodied in Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to strike a balance between human, social, economic and environmental development, while building a diversified and competitive knowledge-based economy and investing in human capital.

His Excellency noted that, guided by this vision, Qatar's labour market system has undergone a continuous process of legislative and institutional reforms in recent years, aimed at building a more flexible, efficient and sustainable labour market. These reforms have included the introduction of a non-discriminatory minimum wage, strengthening the Wage Protection System, developing regulatory frameworks governing labour mobility, enhancing labour inspection and occupational safety and health, and developing mechanisms for the settlement of labour disputes and access to justice.

He stressed that rapid transformations in the world of work, particularly artificial intelligence, digital transformation and the green economy, require greater investment in skills and reskilling, closer alignment between education and training and labour market needs, and proactive planning for the future of work. This will enable

economies and workers to benefit from technological opportunities while limiting their impact on the groups most affected by these changes.

In this context, he affirmed that the State of Qatar believes that social dialogue and partnership between governments, employers and workers are essential pillars for developing balanced and implementable policies that reconcile the requirements of competitiveness and productivity with social justice and the protection of workers' rights.

His Excellency noted that the key message that Qatar hopes will emerge from the Conference's proceedings is that sustainable development requires a productive economy, a flexible labour market, social justice, and institutions capable of responding to transformations and crises, while keeping people at the heart of the development process.

His Excellency expressed his hope that the work of this session would contribute to strengthening Arab cooperation and translating its visions and recommendations into practical initiatives that support labour market stability and provide decent work opportunities, while keeping people at the center of development. (QNA)