Riyadh: The State of Qatar took part on Monday in the ministerial roundtable session of the third Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC), currently underway in Riyadh. The two-day summit has drawn policymakers, business leaders, and labour experts from across the world, with participation from over 120 countries.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri chaired Qatar's delegation at the meeting. In his address to fellow ministers and senior officials, HE Dr Al Marri underscored the need to move swiftly from broad policy frameworks towards tangible implementation. Against the backdrop of rapid economic and technological change, he emphasised the importance of transforming theoretical strategies into practical, operational solutions that effectively respond to evolving labour market dynamics.
Drawing on Qatar's experience, the Minister highlighted the value of aligning institutional reform with targeted capacity-building and partnership-driven approaches. He noted that careful balancing between robust worker protections and market flexibility has been key to fostering a more resilient and adaptable labour market.
HE Dr Al Marri further argued that employment policy must extend beyond long-term planning. It now requires institutional agility - with mechanisms for precise labour market monitoring, rapid policy adjustment, and continuous alignment between skills development and actual market demand. Accelerating the transition from jobseekers to meaningful employment opportunities, he said, hinges on such responsive frameworks.
The Minister also reiterated the pivotal role of the private sector, not merely as an employer but as a strategic collaborator in designing and delivering workforce solutions. He affirmed that jointly developed training initiatives, informed by employer-identified needs, can generate more sustainable outcomes and create direct economic value from investments in human capital.
At the international level, he stressed that strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation is essential for aligning the global supply and demand of labour. Enhanced cooperation in areas such as labour mobility, mutual recognition of skills, and knowledge exchange opens new pathways for work, deepens shared benefits, and bolsters the flexibility of global labour markets in the face of worldwide shifts.
The ministerial roundtable addressed a broad spectrum of pressing issues affecting the global workforce. Discussions highlighted the importance of implementable employment pathways, labour market sustainability, economic growth, productivity improvement, and national skills empowerment. Leaders also exchanged international best practices and explored ways to deepen multilateral collaboration on skills development, adoption of advanced technologies, quality employment, and social protection - all aimed at strengthening the resilience of labour markets globally.
In addition to the roundtable, Dr Al Marri attended the official opening of the third GLMC, taking place from 26 to 27 January. The conference's agenda spans six strategic tracks, including economic shifts and their effects on job markets, the evolving skills landscape amid rapid transformation, the impacts and prospects of artificial intelligence, workforce resilience in times of crisis, and efforts to harmonise labour market policies with broader human-centred progress.