SINGAPORE – The UAE has participated in the 17th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Singapore.
More than 500 representatives of governments, labor organizations and companies from 33 of the 48-member countries of the Asia Pacific Group of ILO took part in the meeting.
The meeting discussed labor priorities and ways to promote employment, especially against the backdrop of the COVID-19 impact and issues affecting labor in Asia Pacific.
It also focused on the national labor and employment policies and the future role of the ILO across the region.
Shayma Al Awadhi, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for Communication and International Relations at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE), reaffirmed the UAE’s support for the Global Coalition for Social Justice, stressing the importance of exchanging international experiences to help stimulate economic growth and recovery.
In her speech, Al Awadhi highlighted the UAE’s prompt response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the successful national vaccination campaign, supportive macroeconomic policies, especially for affected sectors and SMEs, the economic recovery in the backdrop of the success of Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the foreign investments influx into the country.
Al Awadhi reiterated the high growth rates of the country’s economy, driven by the impact of new legislations, which included developing and updating 40 laws, including on regulating labor relations, entry and residency of expatriates, businesses and industrial property.
She also discussed the importance of adopting advanced technology across industries as a basic pillar for the development of UAE’s economy.
She highlighted key initiatives, strategies, and efforts to diversify the economy by boosting non-oil GDP, including continued support to green and circular economy.
Al Awadhi also drew attention to the historical challenges to the global economic and social system, highlighting the fact that the UAE is hosting the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023, where discussions will focus on the impact of climate change on labor markets and economic migration across countries around the world.
Apart from Al Awadhi, the UAE delegation included Khalifa Khamis Al Kaabi, Member of the ILO Governing Body of the Employers Group, and Zayed Saeed Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Coordinating Assembly for Occupational Societies in the UAE, among other Ministry officials.