Adel Bin Mohammed Fakieh, the Minister of Labor, met other Gulf Cooperation Council Labor Ministers here Wednesday for their 28th conference. The ministers have vowed to work harder to achieve closer cooperation in social and economic matters. The conference will address pressing matters including the nationalization of jobs and halting human trafficking and forced labor in the GCC region. Fakieh represented Saudi Arabia at the conference entitled “Joint vision to combat compulsory work and human trafficking in the labor market of the GCC member states”. A spokesman said: “The ministers vowed to formulate economic policies to create jobs in the knowledge economy and create jobs for national workers. They resolved to work towards sustainable development and harmonize socio-economic policies with labor market policies.” The conference also called for the GCC bloc to move as one in matters concerning temporary expatriate contract workers. The GCC ministers resolved to cooperate closely on policies that protect the national identity, social security and demographic balance. The ministers agreed plans to attract skilled workers in high added value economic sectors. However the labor ministers insisted these recruitment policies will complement rather than be an alternative to employing nationals. Each country will compile statistics to gauge its indigenization of jobs and expatriate worker replacement programs. The ministers resolved to coordinate on issues tabled in Arab and international meetings such as the recommendations approved during the 100th session of the International Labor Conference held in Geneva this year. The GCC ministers appointed Aqeel Al-Jassem as the Director General of the Executive Bureau for the period from 2012- 2016. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 29th session for GCC labor ministers and the 34th session for undersecretaries in Riyadh.
