Syria participates in the 111th session of the International Labor Conference in Geneva

The International Labour Organization (ILO) holds its 111th annual Conference in Geneva from 5–16 June 2023. Worker, employer and government delegates from the ILO’s 187 Member States tackle a wide range of issues, including: a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships and labour protection.

Geneva, (ST) – With the participation of Syria, the work of the 111th session of the International Labor Conference began yesterday in Geneva. Thd event is organized annually by the International Labor Organization and it continues until the 16th of this month.

The agenda of the conference includes information and reports on implementing the agreements and recommendations related to apprenticeships and discussing its strategic objective represented in social protection, a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships and labour protection.

The Director General of the organization devoted a special report to the Arab workers living under the Israeli occupation in Palestine, the occupied Syrian Golan and the Lebanese Shebaa Farms.

Syria was represented on behalf of the government team by the permanent representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Haider Ali Ahmed, the workers’ team Jamal Al-Qadri, Head of the General Confederation of Trade Unions in Syria, and the employers’ team Ghazwan Al-Masri, Had of the Syrian Chamber of Industry, in addition to the rest of the members of the Syrian delegation Participant from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.

Al-Qadri indicated that the conference agenda includes topics related to the future of work in light of the developments in the technology and artificial intelligence sector and the change in labor relations, ranging from discussing a just transition in the world of work and the importance of adopting an international agreement dealing with apprenticeships and preserving the rights of apprentices.

Al-Qadri pointed out that the conference will discuss the inclusion of occupational health and safety among the basic rights of workers around the world.

The Director of Social Affairs and Labor in Damascus, Daleen Fahd indicated in a statement to SANA that the conference is important at the international level, as it includes the launch of a global coalition for social justice.

Fahd said that the members of the conference bureau were elected and its permanent and technical committees were appointed. “The participants also presented several proposals, including the cancellation of one international labor agreement, the withdrawal of four agreements and one protocol, and a partial review of 18 recommendations and agreements on the inclusion of a safe and healthy work environment within the framework of the International Labour Organization regarding basic principles and rights at work”, he added.

During the participation of employers representing the Syrian delegation, the Head of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry, Ghazwan Al-Masry, presented two working papers in which he emphasized the role of institutions and companies in supporting training to empower young people with the skills required to enter the labor market and the need to provide financial and technical support to develop the apprenticeship system and administrative and vocational training. He pointed to the importance of focusing on the protection of employment and issues of health and safety of workers and the preservation of their rights and efforts to protect them in the workplace.

Hayyan Al-Asfar, a member of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry, pointed out the need for employers to know the requirements of occupational health and safety conditions in their facilities and apply them optimally to achieve a safe and healthy work environment and reduce work-related risks.

In turn, George Daoud, the treasurer of the Damascus Chamber of Industry and its countryside indicated that cooperation with the International Labour Organization and the European Training Foundation resulted in the launch of the apprenticeship project in Syria since 2000, which was carried out in cooperation between the Chamber and the Ministry of Education, where thousands of students were trained, and it is necessary to follow up and develop the project.

It is noteworthy that the International Labour Conference is held once a year to discuss major issues in the world of work and brings together representatives of governments, workers and employers of the 187 member states of the Organization.

Raghda Sawas