Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thanain, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, led the Kingdom's delegation to 17th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which began today in Singapore. During the meeting's plenary session, Dr. Abuthnain spoke on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. In his speech, he touched on the GCC states' desire to ensure the implementation of the parties' rights to the employment relationship, occupational safety and health, and the restriction of any forms of exploitation or practices involving forced labor or human trafficking. The GCC states, he continued, "established a clear example during the Covid-19 crisis, exerting their maximum efforts to protect all workers without exception or discrimination, assist their return to their home countries, and give immunizations and health care gratis." In a speech explaining the significance of the International Labor Organization's regional meeting for the review and exchange of experiences and expertise among the countries of the region, he emphasized that the GCC countries are currently developing, strengthening, and expanding social protection systems in collaboration with the organization, which is represented by the Regional Office for Arab States, especially in light of changing work patterns and the impact of the pandemic.
