Doha: Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the high-level preparatory meeting for the 6th session of the Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM) began in Doha on Wednesday. Organised by the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the two-day gathering, held from 15 to 16 October, brings together representatives from over 50 Islamic nations alongside leading international organisations, experts, and civil society representatives. The conference unfolds under the compelling theme: “Local Experiences, Global Achievements: Success Stories Across the Islamic World.”
According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting was presided over by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, with the participation of Their Excellencies Undersecretaries of the Ministries of Labor and senior officials of the OIC Member States. In her opening remarks, she emphasised the critical importance of this session at a time that demands enhanced cooperation and integration to secure a prosperous future for the Islamic world.
HE Sheikha Najwa highlighted that the preparatory meeting is more than a routine gathering – it embodies a collective commitment to advancing labour policies, employment, and social protection frameworks that uphold fairness, human dignity, and justice. She underscored the OIC’s central role in promoting sustainable development and championing just causes, placing the Palestinian issue at the core of a moral and humanitarian imperative.
Concluding her address, HE Sheikha Najwa affirmed that human capital constitutes both the foundation and ultimate goal of development, noting that collaborative investment in skills and capacities is the most effective path to shared prosperity and social justice across the Islamic world.
HE Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs of the OIC Dr Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo opened his remarks by expressing gratitude to Qatar for hosting the conference and commending the Ministry of Labour for its exceptional organisation. He praised Azerbaijan for its leadership during the 5th ICLM and highlighted the complex global challenges facing OIC member states, including geopolitical tensions, slowing economic growth, and the mounting impacts of climate change.
He emphasised that technological transformations, including artificial intelligence and remote work, are reshaping labour markets, requiring flexible and innovative policies to enhance workforce adaptability and employment conditions. He urged countries to leverage technology to create new opportunities, modernise existing jobs, invest in youth skills, and ensure sustainable, rewarding employment for future generations.
Dr Sengendo further highlighted that OIC member states host some of the world’s youngest populations, presenting an immense developmental opportunity if properly nurtured. He stressed that quality education and decent work are essential to stability and growth, cautioning that marginalising youth could lead to social challenges. He reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people, for member states recovering from conflicts, and for those facing unemployment and poverty, underlining the OIC Secretariat’s commitment to supporting the outcomes of the preparatory meeting.
The opening session also featured an address by HE Rashad Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who commended the State of Qatar for hosting the meeting and highlighted Azerbaijan’s longstanding contributions to advancing Islamic labour cooperation since joining the OIC in 1991.
He recalled, in particular, Azerbaijan’s hosting of the 2nd ICLM in 2013 and the 5th ICLM in Baku in 2023, as well as the establishment of the OIC Labour Centre, now a pivotal platform for policy coordination and knowledge exchange among Member States.
HE Mustafayev further announced that Azerbaijan will host the 16th OIC Summit next year and concluded by congratulating Qatar on assuming the chairmanship of the 6th ICLM, reaffirming his country’s full support for human-centred and impactful outcomes across the Islamic world.