MLSD Minister participates in the meeting of the Committee of Labor Ministers in the Cooperation Council States

07-10-2020

His Excellency Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, took part in the sixth meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Labour Ministers Committee, held today via video‑conference under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the United Arab Emirates. The ministers discussed a number of shared priorities, notably providing employment opportunities for GCC citizens, facilitating their movement between member states for work purposes and ensuring equal treatment for citizens working outside their home countries. They also reviewed the measures already taken to implement the directives of GCC leaders in these areas. The meeting considered the Council’s vision for enhancing joint action in the post‑COVID‑19 phase, including coordinated approaches to strengthening labour‑market regulation, reshaping education and training policies to equip national talent for the labour market, and updating labour legislation and programmes that create jobs for citizens. In his remarks, His Excellency Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, reaffirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to joint Gulf action, outlining the steps already taken to implement Supreme Council decisions on equal treatment for GCC citizens employed in Bahrain’s public and private sectors and pledging continued support for enhanced post‑pandemic cooperation. Humaidan also reviewed Bahrain’s initiatives to address the repercussions of the COVID‑19 pandemic, detailing the numerous measures and programmes adopted to curb the virus’s spread and noting their positive impact on maintaining the stability of the labour market and protecting the workforce. He highlighted the most significant government measure—the payment and support of wages for national workers in the private sector from April until the end of this year—and underscored the constructive role played by the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which has supported the judicious Government’s efforts to mitigate the pandemic’s effects and preserve national employment, alongside other initiatives designed to assist private‑sector institutions and companies. On another note, the GCC Labour Ministers reviewed the outcomes of the G20 Employment Task Force, commending the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its effective presidency and for the recommendations that bolster the initiatives and programmes of GCC Ministries of Labour. His Excellency Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, stressed the importance of exchanging successful experiences among GCC states to advance Gulf labour‑market policies and regulations, and of coordinating positions in Arab and international labour forums—particularly in showcasing each country’s efforts to safeguard the workforce during the COVID‑19 pandemic and their continued commitment to implementing the relevant international labour standards.