Geneva:The International Labour Organization (ILO) convened an international donors' meeting on Tuesday to gather financial and technical support for Palestine's Decent Work, Recovery, Employment Promotion, and Social Protection Programme. This initiative aims to aid recovery efforts, restore livelihoods, create decent work opportunities, and strengthen the social protection system in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, the meeting followed a decision by the ILO Governing Body during its 355th Session. It is part of an effort to enhance coordinated international support for the Decent Work and Recovery Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for 2026-2029. The programme outlines the ILO's intervention framework in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was jointly invited by ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, the State of Qatar, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with cooperation from the Palestinian side represented by the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in Geneva, the Ministry of Labour, and representatives of workers and employers. Discussions highlighted the importance of linking urgent humanitarian responses with economic recovery and development, focusing on employment, workers' rights, and social protection to ensure sustainable interventions and bolster the Palestinian economy's resilience.
Key figures at the meeting included the ILO Director-General, Qatari Minister of Labour Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador Erika Schouten, and Egyptian Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad. They were joined by the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi. During her video address, Minister of Labour Enas Al-Attari expressed gratitude for international efforts and emphasized the need for tangible employment programs that align with national priorities, highlighting the National Employment Strategy's focus areas.
The Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Shaher Saed, underscored the importance of recovery and employment programs and linked social justice to ending the occupation and establishing the State of Palestine. The President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA), Abdo Idris, advocated for a shift towards a sustainable economic vision that supports private sector growth and decent work.
Countries such as Italy and Kuwait announced financial commitments, with Italy pledging 5 million pounds over three years and Kuwait continuing its annual $500,000 contribution. Participating countries, including Jordan, Algeria, the European Union, and others, emphasized the need for sustainable funding, linking humanitarian responses with economic development, and empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The meeting also highlighted the necessity of restoring the Palestinian economy's productive capacity and ensuring the involvement of workers and employers in recovery planning.