GCC countries promising national strategies

The GCC is adopting policies towards increasing job opportunities for the national workforce, as a constitutional obligation for all governments. GCC nations will also adopt policies to facilitate the movement of GCC workforce between member nations. This came during a statement made by Saqr Gobash, UAE Minister of Labour and Chairman of the 28th session of GCC Ministers of Labour, in a joint press conference with the Council of GCC Labour Ministers during the 100th International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference. Gobash said that the GCC member countries are implementing promising national strategies to merge the national workforce into the job market through advanced training programmes. "On behalf of the GCC Ministers of Labour council, I would like to extend my appreciation for the efforts exerted by Juan Somavia, ILO's Director-General, on the Global Report on ‘Equality at work: the continuing challenge'," said Gobash. Gobash stressed the importance of what was indicated in the report regarding organizations' commitment for equality. He said that the commitment made by organizations must be strong enough to stand against changes taking place in economic and social conditions. Gobash added that GCC countries are thankful for the efforts made by ILO to develop suitable and anti-discriminatory labour programmes, and boosting equality in the workplace. He said that Gulf countries were keen on their commitment towards eliminating discrimination in accordance with ILO Conventions 100 and 111. He said that the implementation of the Conventions' legislations and programmes ensured anti-discriminatory practices, achieving equality and fairness, and supporting the principle of equal job opportunities. "All GCC countries have ratified Convention 111. And the other Gulf countries who have not yet ratified Convention 100 are working with commitment towards doing so," Gobash said. Gobash pointed out that Gulf nations have also worked towards programmes to enhance women's role in the social, economic and politics field. He added that women are not discriminated against in salary or work opportunities. "The Global Report on ‘Equality at work: the continuing challenge' indicates that the GCC provides expatriate workers under temporary contracts with access to short-term benefits, such as healthcare programmes that comes under social security programmes," he said. "Expatriate workers that are under contract in the Gulf enjoy equality and labour rights in accordance with our countries' legislations. The workforce also practices their social, cultural and educational activities without any discrimination to their ethnicity, gender, religion or colour," Gobash said. "The temporary nature of their work also allows them to enjoy end-of-service benefits," he added. Gobash also affirmed that the expatriate workforce are brought into the Gulf countries through legal means that are regulated by laws, agreements, conventions and certified work contracts to preserve the rights of the workers and protect them from being taken advantage of. He said that GCC countries are striving to improve dialogue between the country of origin and labour receiving country to ensure the implementation of international standards in the process and achieve a balance in the mutual benefit between both countries. The Minister of Labour also added that the Gulf countries were among the least affected countries by the global financial crisis thanks to integrated economic policies, the carrying out of structural reforms and the state of economic prosperity enjoyed by member countries. He pointed out that there were no mass-layoffs for expatriate or national workers, that no measures were taken to limit work privileges, and that salaries were paid in a timely manner.