UAE acknowledges labour challenges of Gulf region

The UAE minister of labour tells the International Labour Organisation that policies are needed to create more jobs.

The UAE has called on the International Labour Organisation to strike a balance of interests among governments, employers and workers.

Saqr Ghobash, the minister of labour, made the remark yesterday during the general session of the organisation (ILO) in Geneva.

The session, attended by Joyce Banda, the Malawian president, and delegates, focused on discussion of the report prepared by the ILO's director general on advent of 100 years since its inception.

It addressed future challenges of labour markets and the organisation, and how best to tackle them.

Mr Ghobash said the UAE Government appreciates the report. He referred to the challenges that would face labour markets due to demographic changes, which could be tackled through provision of appropriate job opportunities to the new workforce, especially those coming from South Asia and the Middle East. "We agree with the report," he said.

"The Gulf region faces these challenges - a situation that requires policies to create more jobs."

He said that the decisive factor for maintaining the ability of the ILO to discharge its historic role "does not lie in interaction with criticisms issued by foreign authorities, but on striking the balance of interests among the three parties."