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The State of Qatar participated Thursday in a high-level briefing on Wage Protection Systems (WPS) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, convened on the margins of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body meetings in Geneva.His Excellency Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Samikh al-Marri represented the State of Qatar at the session. The session, organized by the Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs in the GCC States, and supported by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar and the Permanent Mission of the GCC in Geneva, showcased the outcomes of a joint study undertaken with the ILO on the evolution of WPS across the region.The meeting underscored the collective determination of GCC countries to continue strengthening labour market governance, promote fair working conditions, and advance the objectives of the Global Coalition for Social Justice, in line with broader commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.In his address, His Excellency Dr Ali bin Samikh al-Marri described the joint study as a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between the GCC and the ILO. He noted that the findings reflect a shared resolve to uphold social justice, reinforce workers' rights, and entrench the principles of decent work across the region.HE the Minister highlighted that the GCC's experience in wage protection has matured into a recognized regional and international model. He emphasized that the transition from traditional regulations to integrated digital platforms has enhanced transparency, strengthened compliance, and ensured timely payment of wages - contributing to greater trust between employers and workers, and supporting long-term labour market stability.He added that this progress is anchored in a clear political commitment from GCC governments to balance robust worker protection with the growth and continuity of private-sector enterprises, through a framework grounded in transparency, accountability, and constructive engagement with international partners.His Excellency the Minister of Labour reaffirmed that wage protection remains a central pillar of Qatar's labour market reforms. He noted that the country has implemented a comprehensive suite of mechanisms - including the electronic WPS, streamlined dispute-resolution pathways, and the Workers' Support and Insurance Fund - all contributing to the broader agenda of social justice and to the objectives of the Global Coalition.

HE the Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, met this week with French ambassador Arnaud Pescheux.The meeting discussed bilateral relations and explored ways to enhance and further develop them, particularly in the field of labour. HE Dr al-Marri also met with Director of the ILO Office in Qatar, Francesco d’Ovidio.The meeting reviewed the framework of bilateral co-operation between Qatar and the ILO, and to follow up on the progress and key developments of the ongoing joint programme.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) announced that the unemployment rate in the West Bank during the first quarter of 2025 reached 31.7% for men and 33.7% for women. In a report analyzing the impact of the two-year Israeli occupation's aggression on Gaza on the West Bank economy and labor market, the ILO noted a sharp deterioration in livelihoods, with rising unemployment rates, declining incomes, and worsening poverty among Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories.The report indicated that the war and its accompanying restrictions caused a 29% decline in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the occupied Palestinian territory as a whole between the first two quarters of 2023 and 2025, with the West Bank recording a 17.1% contraction.It revealed that the situation worsened during the second quarter of this 2025, with Israeli restrictions tightened across the West Bank. Living standards declined, with real per capita income in the West Bank declining by more than 20% compared to 2023.The ILO predicted a further deterioration in the labor market in the West Bank, with the overall unemployment rate expected to reach 38.5%, affecting more than 363,000 Palestinians. It added that the West Bank recorded modest growth of 9.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, but output remains well below pre-war levels.