Bishkek, Oct. 20 2025. /Kabar/. The State of Qatar officially assumed the chairmanship of the Conference of Labour Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from the Republic of Azerbaijan, starting with its 6th Session held on Thursday, 16 October 2025, in the Qatari capital, Doha.
The conference was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation under the theme “Local Experiences, Global Achievements: Success Stories in the Islamic World.”
The session brought together labour ministers and heads of delegations from the Member States, as well as representatives of relevant regional and international organizations, experts, academics, and members of civil society, to discuss the OIC’s strategies aimed at developing labour markets and strengthening social protection systems across Member States.
In his statement delivered on behalf of the OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, by Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, he expressed his sincere appreciation to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and to the Government, people, and Minister of Labour of Qatar, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, for their warm hospitality and dedicated attention to ensuring the success of the conference.
He commended the distinguished commitment and efforts of Mr. Anar Aliyev, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, throughout his chairmanship of the 5th Session.
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of the conference’s deliberations in enhancing a deep understanding of the challenges facing labour markets and in formulating effective policies to address them.
He noted that the conference convenes at a pivotal moment in the history of the Organization, following the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza after two years of genocide, massacres, and the starvation of innocent Palestinians. He expressed hope that this decision would lead to a complete end to the war and to the establishment of the State of Palestine based on relevant United Nations resolutions — not only at the UN General Assembly level but also on the ground.
He emphasized that the conference’s theme reflects a shared interest in promoting decent work and achieving sustainable growth, pointing out that exchanging best practices and success stories in increasing decent and productive employment opportunities and improving living standards would also enhance individual competitiveness and overall performance in the global economy.
He expressed confidence that the conference would thrive under Qatar’s wise chairmanship over the next two years, reiterating the OIC General Secretariat’s commitment to continue working to address unemployment and to foster an enabling environment for decent work and equal opportunities for all.
For his part, Anar Rahim oghlu Aliyev, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, praised the efforts of Islamic countries and their constant endeavor to guarantee workers’ rights, commending the commitment and dedication of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to ensuring and protecting those rights.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Labour of Azerbaijan has always been committed to promoting human values and lauded the OIC’s continued support for Azerbaijan throughout all the stages it has gone through until its resurgence.
Aliyev expressed his country’s pride in hosting the OIC Labour Centre in Baku, despite its recent establishment in 2024, noting that the Centre has numerous projects and initiatives that will further strengthen its role in the future. He called on Member States to join and support the Centre’s mission.
He further emphasized the importance of effectively utilizing the capacities of youth and training them to enhance economic growth, as well as involving women in the labour market, empowering them in this field, and developing workers’ skills to advance progress and confront challenges in the labour sector.
Following his address, Minister Aliyev officially handed over the chairmanship of the meeting to Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Minister of Labour of the State of Qatar.
In his remarks, Minister Al Marri affirmed that holding the conference in Doha comes at a critical stage marked by increasing economic and political challenges that affect human security, stressing that the success of this gathering is yet another expression of collective determination.
He described the OIC as the unified voice of the Islamic Ummah and commended its effective role in defending Islamic causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause. He underscored the need to support the Palestinian people in attaining all their legitimate rights, particularly their legal right to an independent state.
He further stressed the importance of ensuring the Palestinians’ right to work free from occupation and empowering them in their employment as an integral part of humanitarian and developmental action.
For his part, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), praised the OIC and Qatar for their success in organizing the conference, which he described as an important gathering, highlighting that the Organization and its 57 Member States represent the largest bloc and a unified collective voice.
Participating via videoconference, Houngbo emphasized that building bridges of consensus strengthens the collective spirit within the ILO. He discussed the challenges facing the labour market, explaining that major technological and climate changes have created significant barriers, while pointing to the alignment and cooperation between the ILO and the OIC.
He stated that in order to continue serving its stakeholders effectively, the ILO has introduced several reforms to keep pace with global transformations, expressing his gratitude to the countries that joined and contributed to these necessary reforms.
Houngbo also praised the OIC for its constructive role and expressed confidence in its ability to address key labour market challenges, particularly unemployment.
The first working session witnessed the adoption of the draft agenda and programme of work, as well as the report of the Chair of the Senior Officials. The session also featured interventions from ministers and heads of delegations.
The second session included the signing of the Statute of the OIC Labour Centre and continued interventions by ministers and heads of delegations.
The closing session concluded with the adoption of the final resolution and report of the 6th Session, followed by a closing statement by the Chair, the Minister of Labour of the State of Qatar.
The two-day conference featured presentations of joint initiatives and projects aimed at reducing unemployment, developing skills, building capacities, and supporting social and economic development efforts in OIC Member States. It also shed light on key issues such as human resource development, employment promotion, social protection, digital transformation, and the empowerment and qualification of national talents to lead various economic sectors and actively participate in the path of sustainable development.