GENEVA, November 10, 2026 (WAFA) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) held an international donors' meeting on Tuesday, aiming to mobilize financial and technical support for the Decent Work, Recovery, Employment Promotion, and Social Protection Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, contributing to the support of recovery efforts, the restoration of livelihoods, the provision of decent work opportunities, and the reinforcement of the social protection system.
The meeting comes following a decision by the ILO Governing Body during its 355th Session, and within the framework of strengthening coordinated international support for the Decent Work and Recovery Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the period 2026–2029, which forms the regulating framework for the Organization's interventions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was held upon a joint invitation from ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, the State of Qatar, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and in cooperation with 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.
The discussions focused on the necessity of linking the response to urgent humanitarian needs with the requirements of economic recovery and development, and placing employment, workers' rights, and social protection at the core of reconstruction efforts, as a way to ensure the sustainability of interventions and strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian economy to recover.
The meeting opened with statements by 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, in the presence of the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi.
During her speech via video conference, Minister of Labour Enas Al-Attari thanked the Organization, the states, and all parties for their efforts, and stressed the necessity of translating international support into tangible employment programs that respond to national needs.
She reviewed the strategic pillars of the National Employment Strategy, which include entrepreneurship, the cooperative economy, vocational training, and emergency employment.
She emphasized the necessity of supporting the Palestinian Employment Fund (PEF) and strengthening its capacity to provide job opportunities and contribute to restoring economic activity.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Shaher Saed, stressed the importance of supporting the Palestinian people through effective recovery and employment programs, and praised the role of the ILO, Qatar, and the Netherlands in convening this meeting.
He emphasized that achieving social justice is linked to ending the occupation, establishing the State of Palestine, and realizing the rights of the Palestinian people.
In turn, the President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA), Abdo Idris, stressed the necessity of transitioning from responding to emergency needs to adopting a sustainable economic vision that supports the private sector and Palestinian enterprises, and promotes decent work and social protection.
He called for supporting the Palestinian Employment Fund and expanding the partnership between governments, workers, and employers, contributing to the protection of workers and the restoration of economic activity.
The meeting witnessed extensive interventions from participating countries, which in their entirety affirmed support for the Palestinian people and the necessity of providing sustainable and coordinated funding for recovery and reconstruction efforts.
They also expressed support for the ILO program and stressed the importance of integrating employment, decent work, and social protection into recovery efforts from their earliest stages.
Among the most prominent contributions were Italy's announcement of €5 million over three years, and the State of Kuwait's confirmation of the continuation of its annual contribution of $500,000.
Participating countries, including Kuwait, Jordan, Algeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Libya, Italy, Indonesia, Spain, France, Brazil, Kenya, Turkey, and the European Union, stressed the importance of supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their national institutions.
They called for strengthening recovery and reconstruction efforts by providing sustainable, multi-year funding, linking the humanitarian response to economic development, protecting livelihoods, providing job opportunities, strengthening social protection and vocational training, and developing Palestinian institutions, with attention to the economic empowerment of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Representatives of the international trade union movement and employers also stressed the necessity of restoring the productive capacity of the Palestinian economy and ensuring the participation of workers and employers in defining recovery priorities.
T.R.
