Under joint chairmanship with the European Union, Jordan participated in chairing the 5th Jordan participates in the 5th ministerial meeting for Minsters of Labour of Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) countries hosted by Morocco under the title “Youth Employment and Women Integration in Labour Market”.
Jordan’s delegate Minister of Labour Nayef Istaitieh stated that the two-day ministerial meeting focused on employment and employability, in particular among males and females, experience sharing, best practices and lessons learnt following coronavirus pandemic. With the presence of representatives of international and regional organizations, participating labour ministers discussed most pressing challenges in the Euro Mediterranean region.
Istaitieh stressed that provision of job opportunities, in particular after coronavirus pandemic and its negative impact on labour market had become a key challenge, not for Jordan alone, but for all South Med countries. This requires extensive efforts of coordination and cooperation between countries of the Mediterranean to reduce unemployment rates and focus on development of vocational and technical training system and training institutions to include new sectors for the benefit of male and female youths, in addition to ensure safe and decent work environment in all economic sectors and activities.
He further noted that Royal directions focus on care of youth an women being partners in the present and builders of the future. They receive attention to increase their participation at labour market.
On sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the Minister met with several Arab and European Ministers of Labour, as well as officials of international organizations to include German International Cooperation Foundation (GIZ).
Istaitieh discussed issues of concern regarding Jordan’s need to improve vocational and technical education and training, increase job opportunities for the youth, and increase women integration in labour market with Moroccan Minister of Economic Integration, Small & Medium Enterprises, and Labour Dr. Younus Al-Skouri, EU Commissioner for jobs and social rights Nicholas Schmit, Italian Labour Minister Andrea Orlando and German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Huberts Hail.