Egypt’s labor minister calls for unified Arab stance at international forums

CAIRO - 4 APRIL 2026: Egypt’s Minister of Labor Hassan Raddad chaired the 104th session of the Arab Labor Organization’s board of directors in Cairo on Saturday, in his capacity as chairman of the board, with representatives from the Arab League and the Arab world’s three production parties, governments, employers, and workers, attending the meeting.

 

Opening the session, Raddad welcomed participants to Cairo and said holding the meeting in Egypt reflected the country’s long-standing role as a bridge for dialogue and cooperation across the Arab world. He said the session comes as part of the organization’s efforts to improve labor conditions and support sustainable development across Arab countries.

 

The minister also praised Arab Labor Organization Director-General Fayez Al-Mutairi for his efforts to strengthen the organization’s role at both the regional and international levels. He said recent Arab coordination meetings on the sidelines of the International Labour Organization gathering in Geneva helped support a more unified Arab position on labor-related issues.

 

Raddad said the meeting was taking place at an exceptional moment for the Arab region, pointing to rising tensions and military escalation that he said threaten regional stability and international peace. He warned that these developments were already having serious economic and social effects, including higher inflation, growing pressure on living costs, disruption in labor markets, rising unemployment, and weaker production in several sectors.

 

He said these pressures require governments, business organizations, and labor unions to work more closely together through stronger social dialogue and practical solutions. He stressed that the real way out of the crisis lies in ending attacks and giving priority to political and peaceful solutions.

 

The minister also renewed calls for the international community, the United Nations, and the U.N. Security Council to take responsibility and push for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the region. He said a just and lasting peace remains the strategic path to security and stability in the Middle East.

 

Raddad said the session’s agenda includes reviewing decisions from the previous meeting, examining the organization’s financial position, and discussing its draft plan and budget for 2027 and 2028. The board is also reviewing reports on legal affairs, trade union freedoms, Arab women’s labor issues, and the organization’s contribution to the Arab Vision 2045 framework adopted by the Arab summit.

 

He also said the suffering of Palestinian workers cannot be ignored, renewing support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 

In a separate speech, Al-Mutairi said the Arab region is passing through a highly dangerous period as conflict and tension continue to weigh on development, labor markets, supply chains, transport routes, and food and medicine security. He said closer Arab coordination is needed to protect workers and reduce the economic and social fallout of the current crises.