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Arab News
18-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Strengthening Kingdom's global partnerships to shape the future of work
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently represented Saudi Arabia at the International Labour Conference in Geneva. In meetings with representatives of governments, employers and workers from around the world, we reaffirmed our belief that international collaboration and the sharing of best practices are critical drivers of sustainable labor market development in the Kingdom. This commitment was strengthened during the conference with the signing of the third phase of technical cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the International Labour Organization. The renewed agreement — signed by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad Al-Rajhi and ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo — reflects our shared ambition to promote decent work and build a more resilient and inclusive labor market, prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Saudi Arabia has implemented wide-ranging reforms to transform the labor market in line with Vision 2030. This partnership has contributed to significant progress in key areas of the Kingdom's labor market — from occupational safety to skills development — and has supported greater participation across all segments of society, especially among women and young people. This renewed collaboration builds on another important milestone: the signing of a memorandum of understanding last month to enable Saudi nationals to participate in the junior professional officers and secondment programs at the ILO, providing them with opportunities to gain international experience. These initiatives will equip the next generation of Saudi professionals with direct experience in multilateral labor governance, fostering expertise across our institutions. At the core of these efforts is our belief that labor markets must be built on fairness, safety and shared prosperity. Reforms introduced under Vision 2030 have already produced measurable results. Between 2019 and the end of last year, more than 700,000 Saudis entered private sector employment, taking the total to about 2.4 million. Today, the country's overall unemployment is 3.5 percent, with unemployment among Saudi citizens at 7 percent at the end of 2024. The labor force participation rate among Saudi women now exceeds 36 percent, up from 17.7 percent in 2016, while young Saudis are increasingly benefiting from vocational education, digital skills training and tailored employment services. At the same time, Saudi Arabia recognizes the global challenges reshaping the world of work — from technological disruption to shifting demographics — and is preparing its workforce through targeted reforms. More than 4 million people have already benefited from such initiatives. As well as expanding access to the labor market, the country has introduced robust measures to protect all workers, including expatriates. These include improvements to recruitment practices, grievance mechanisms, wage protection and occupational health and safety standards. Furthermore, digital platforms such as Musaned and Qiwa are driving transparency and streamlining key labor processes to promote fair treatment and accountability. Saudi Arabia's alignment with international labor standards is central to this transformation. It has ratified core conventions, including the ILO's Convention No. 95 on the Protection of Wages and the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention No. 29, and last year strengthened its commitment to worker well-being by ratifying ILO Convention No. 187 on the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health. The Kingdom recently became the first Arab country to introduce a national policy for the elimination of forced labor, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding rights in the world of work. Our collaboration with the ILO demonstrates what can be achieved when international partnerships are rooted in shared values and leveraged as part of a transformative agenda. Looking ahead, we remain committed to deepening international cooperation, including through emerging regional and global platforms. One example is the Global Labor Market Conference, held annually in Riyadh, with its third edition scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2026. With the participation of leading policymakers, researchers and international organizations, including the ILO, the conference provides a forum to shape labor policies that are inclusive and globally coordinated. In parallel with these reforms, Saudi Arabia is intensifying efforts to attract highly skilled individuals in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, entertainment, mining, biotechnology and renewable energy. Initiatives like the premium residency program and specialized visa pathways for professionals support this ambition, helping position the Kingdom as a leading regional and global hub for innovation, creativity and expertise. Our commitment to international collaboration through forums such as the International Labor Conference and Global Labor Market Conference, as well as through bilateral engagement, remains steadfast and continues to support our efforts to build a labor market that benefits all: at home, in the region and beyond. As we shape this future, we welcome continued partnership with governments, employers and international institutions to ensure the world of work is built on fairness, resilience and shared progress. • Dr. Tariq bin Abdulaziz Al-Hamad is deputy minister for international affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Scoop
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
ILO Member States: Implement Resolution On Myanmar Junta
(BANGKOK, June 12, 2025)—International Labour Organization (ILO) member states and organizations should fully implement measures recommended by the ILO's governing body aimed at ending the Myanmar junta's abuses, said Fortify Rights. A resolution, passed last week by the International Labour Conference (ILC), calls on ILO member states and constituent organizations to 'disable' the junta's ability to commit atrocity crimes. 'The ILO's resolution on Myanmar lays a clear roadmap for states, trade unions, and employers' organizations to follow,' said Patrick Phongsathorn, Senior Advocate at Fortify Rights. 'While this commitment is welcomed, words are not enough. ILO member states and organizations must now act to comprehensively disable the junta's war machine through sanctions and actions targeting the junta's arms, funds, and impunity.' Passed on June 5 by consensus during the ILC's 113th session, the resolution on Myanmar invokes Article 33 of the ILO Constitution—an article reserved to address only the most serious instances of human and labor rights abuses. The actions set out in the resolution are aimed at achieving the Myanmar junta's compliance with recommendations made by an ILO Commission of Inquiry. In its report, issued August 4, 2023, the Commission of Inquiry found that measures imposed by the Myanmar military junta have had 'a disastrous impact on the exercise of basic civil liberties,' and contravened ILO conventions on workers' rights and forced labor, to which Myanmar is a state party. The resolution calls on governments, workers, and employers organizations to review their relations with the junta 'with the aim to disable all means that have abetted or empowered the perpetuation of … egregious violations.' It urges ILO member states and organizations to cease selling or supplying the junta with military equipment, jet fuel, and financing. Finally, the resolution calls on states to respect the principle of non-refoulement, considering that 'human rights defenders fleeing Myanmar are at serious risk of irreparable harm.' On January 14, Fortify Rights wrote to ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo recommending measures, including targeted sanctions, protection of refugees, and accountability initiatives, to be included in the resolution on Myanmar. In the letter, Fortify Rights stated that the measures it outlined, many of which were included in the final resolution, 'are vital to protecting Myanmar's workers and ensuring that the military regime is held accountable for its ongoing abuses.' Since the Myanmar military coup d'état in February 2021, Fortify Rights has documented extensive evidence of widespread and systematic human rights violations by the junta and its operatives that amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. In particular, Fortify Rights has documented grave breaches of the laws of war, including the use of civilians as human shields and porters, and the forced military conscription of Rohingya refugees. 'The ILO resolution on Myanmar proposes strong and potentially effective measures to end the junta's crimes,' said Patrick Phongsathorn. 'Given the overwhelming support it has garnered from ILO member states and organizations, the resolution provides a mandate for action that must be met.'
Kuwait Times
13-06-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
World has nearly 138 million child laborers
UNITED NATIONS: Nearly 138 million children were still working in the world's fields and factories in 2024, the United Nations said Wednesday, warning that given the slow pace of progress, eliminating child labor could be delayed by 'hundreds of years.' Ten years ago, upon adopting the so-called Sustainable Development Goals, the world's countries set themselves the ambitious target of putting an end to child labor by 2025. 'That timeline has now come to an end. But child labor has not,' UNICEF and the International Labor Organization (ILO) said in a joint report. Last year 137.6 million children ages 5-17 were working, or approximately 7.8 percent of all children in that age group, according to data published every four years. The figure is equivalent to twice the total population of France. This nevertheless represents a drop since 2000, when 246 million children were forced to work, often to help their impoverished families. After a worrying rise between 2016 and 2020, the trend has now reversed, with 20 million fewer children working in 2024 than four years prior. 'Significant progress' has been recorded in reducing the number of children forced into labor, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said. 'Yet far too many children continue to toil in mines, factories or fields, often doing hazardous work to survive.' According to the report, nearly 40 percent of the 138 million child laborers were employed in 2024 doing particularly hazardous work 'likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development.' Despite some rays of hope, 'we must not be blindsided by the fact that we still have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of eliminating child labor,' ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said. 8.2 percent of children At the current rate of reduction, 'it will take hundreds of years,' UNICEF expert Claudia Cappa told AFP. Even if countries quadruple the pace of progress recorded since 2000, 'we will be already in 2060,' she added. Progress for the youngest children is particularly slow, the report found. Last year nearly 80 million kids ages five to 11 were working—about 8.2 percent of all children in that age group. And yet the societal elements that reduce child labor are well-known, according to Cappa. One of the main factors, free compulsory education, not only helps minors escape child labor, 'it protects children from vulnerable or indecent conditions of employment when they grow up,' she said. Another, she added, is 'universalizing social protection' as a way to offset or ease burdens on families and vulnerable communities. But global funding cuts 'threaten to roll back hard-earned gains,' UNICEF's Russell said. According to the report, agriculture is the sector making the most use of child labor (61 percent of all cases), followed by domestic work and other services (27 percent) and industry (13 percent, including mining and manufacturing). Sub-Saharan Africa remains the hardest hit, with around 87 million child laborers. Asia-Pacific has seen the greatest progress, with the number of working children falling from 49 million in 2000 to 28 million in 2024.- AFP
Daily Tribune
12-06-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
World still had 138m child labourers in 2024
AFP | United Nations Nearly 138 million children were still working in the world's fields and factories in 2024, the United Nations said yesterday, warning that given the slow pace of progress, eliminating child labour could be delayed by "hundreds of years." Ten years ago, upon adopting the so-called Sustainable Development Goals, the world's countries set themselves the ambitious target of putting an end to child labor by 2025. "That timeline has now come to an end. But child labour has not," UNICEF and the International Labor Organization (ILO) said in a joint report. Last year 137.6 million children ages 5-17 were working, or approximately 7.8% of all children in that age group, according to data published every four years. The figure is equivalent to twice the total population of France. This never the less represents a drop since 2000, when 246 million children were forced to work, often to help their impoverished families. After a worrying rise between 2016 and 2020, the trend has now reversed, with 20 million fewer children working in 2024 than four years prior. "Significant progress" has been recorded in reducing the number of children forced into labor, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said. "Yet far too many children continue to toil in mines, factories or fields, often doing hazardous work to survive." According to the report, nearly 40% of the 138 million child laborers were employed in 2024 doing particularly hazardous work "likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development." Despite some rays of hope, "we must not be blindsided by the fact that we still have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of eliminating child labor," ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo said. 8.2% of children At the current rate of reduction, "it will take hundreds of years," UNICEF expert Claudia Cappa told AFP. Even if countries quadruple the pace of progress recorded since 2000, "we will be already in 2060," she added. Progress for the youngest children is particularly slow, the report found. Last year nearly 80 million kids ages five to 11 were working -- about 8.2 percent of all children in that age group. And yet the societal elements that reduce child labor are wellknown, according to Cappa. One of the main factors, free compulsory education, not only helps minors escape child labour, "it protects children from vulnerable or indecent conditions of employment when they grow up," she said. According to the report, agriculture is the sector making the most use of child labour (61 percent of all cases), followed by domestic work and other services (27 percent) and industry (13 percent, including mining and manufacturing).
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Global Trade Unions Call For Investigation Into Migrant Worker Abuse In Saudi Arabia, Host Of 2034 World Cup
Migrant workers are seen at a construction site near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 03 March, 2024. (Photo ... More by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images) On Wednesday, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and its African affiliate filed a formal complaint against Saudi Arabia, calling on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to investigate the alleged exploitation - and deaths - of migrant workers in the Arab Kingdom. Earlier on the same day, Saudi Arabia and the ILO renewed their cooperation. 'This next phase of cooperation focuses on practical reforms to strengthen labour market institutions, improve working conditions and expand protections for vulnerable workers,' said ILO director-general Gilbert Houngbo. 'It reflects a shared commitment to advancing labour policies that are aligned with international standards and national priorities.' Houngbo, the former PM of Togo, has repeatedly praised Saudi labor progress in the past, but trade unions disagree with the ILO boss. They called for 'urgent international action and accountability' through the establishment of a 'Commission of Inquiry', which is a powerful tool within the ILO system, serving as a 'quasi-judicial procedure'. ITUC and ITUC Africa pointed to widespread abuses of migrant workers' rights, including examples of workers being forced to work up to 20 hours a day, wafe theft, and even subjected to beatings. 'Workers are being treated as disposable in Saudi Arabia. They leave alive and return in coffins,' said Joel Odigie, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, in a statement. 'Enough is enough. The world cannot stay silent while migrant workers are enslaved, abused and discarded. This is a defining moment for the international community. The ILO must act.' The ITUC decision follows the complaint of the Building and Wood Workers' International that focused on the violation of freedom of association and representation under article 24 of the ILO Constitution. ITUC Africa previously raised the fate of African migrant workers in Saudi Arabia with FIFA, but last January, soccer's governing body in a letter from its general secretary Mattias Grafstrom rejected a request to monitor the conditions of migrant workers. The Arab Kingdom received the hosting rights to the 2034 tournament, prompting more scrutiny of its labor practices and legal framework. Eleven years ago, ITUC filed a similar complaint but dropped it when Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host nation, promised reforms. It was part of the lengthy buildup to the first global finals in the Middle East that shone a spotlight on the plight of migrant workers who helped transform the Gulf nation. Migrant workers often faced high recruitment fees, passport confiscation, long working hours, heat stress and wage theft. The scale of Saudi Arabia's World Cup preparations will exceed Qatar's with giga-projects all over the Kingdom, including a futuristic, linear city in Neom, eleven new World Cup venues, the Mukaab and an 'aerotropolis'. To realize these projects, Saudi Arabia will rely on millions of migrant workers, mostly hailing from the subcontinent and Africa. They will be subjected to kafala which ties workers to their employers. Kafala dominates the labor market in the Middle East. Qatar's reforms remain deeply contested. Saudi Arabia has already enacted reform on paper and last year, Saudi World Cup organizers assured FIFA they would provide 'equitable wages and decent working and living conditions for all individuals involved in World Cup preparations.' 'This (kafala) system strips workers of their freedom and dignity, silences complaints and grants employers near-total control over their lives,' said ITUC, pointing out that Saudi Arabia 'has shown no real intention to address the situation.' Saudi Arabia has not yet signalled a willingness to engage with NGOs or other rights groups. Unions remain prohibited in Saudi Arabia. However, Saudi government minister Ahmed Al Rajhi said at the 113th International Labour Conference: 'Safeguarding workers rights is one of the initiatives by the Kingdom. It has implemented a wage protection system. We also paid importance to domestic workers who have full rights.' Qatar worked with the ILO, but the UN body's role was controversial, receiving $25 million in funding from the host state to fund the Doha-based office. The Gulf nation pressed the ILO not to investigate abuses. Saudi Arabia's new agreement with the ILO includes the establishment of an ILO office in Riyadh, according to sources close to the UN body. 'If this programme is to be truly transformative for migrant workers, it must among other things fully tackle the core features of the abusive kafala system that leave workers wholly dependent on their employers,' said Iain Byrne, Amnesty International's Head of Economic and Social Justice. 'The fact that global unions filed a formal complaint against the country at the ILO on the very same day as this agreement was signed, speaks volumes of just how far Saudi Arabia still has to go to protect the rights of migrant workers in the country.' Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has been approached for comment.
