The preparatory meeting for the 33rd session of the ministers of labor and social affairs from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held here Sunday discussed a number of key issues including a uniform law for the protection of persons with disabilities and a coordination body for joint charity work in the Gulf region.
Undersecretaries of the ministries of labor and social development opened the preparatory meeting, while the 33rd meeting of the minsters will officially open Tuesday in Riyadh to discuss the joint strategy on labor and social development as well as conditions of foreign workers in the region, a senior official from the Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development told Arab News.
Labor and Social Development Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani heads the current session of the GCC labor and social affairs ministers’ council.
Commenting on the agenda during the preparatory meeting, Khalid Aba Al-Khail, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, said: “Undersecretaries of the ministry of labor and social affairs from member states met here at the GCC general secretariat, and will resume discussions on Monday on a number of topics including a unified draft law on the protection of disabled people.”
They will also discuss important issues, such as “how GCC citizens residing in any member country would benefit from social services provided by the country to its citizens,” he said.
The GCC as a common market will also be discussed, he pointed out, saying the officials will also discuss a uniform system for voluntary work in addition to a proposal presented by Bahrain on the formation of a coordination body for joint charity work.
Moreover, a GCC unified strategy for social development and objectives of sustainable development for 2030, and mechanisms for implementation of recommendations of a GCC youth workshop in the social field are also under consideration for the meeting, he said.
GCC officials will also discuss resolutions of the previous sessions of the GCC Supreme Council on Social Affairs, which fall within the jurisdictions of the GCC ministries of labor and social affairs.
They will further explore how to put the GCC organizations and offices under the umbrella of the GCC General Secretariat, under the supervision of the GCC Ministerial Council and other committees in charge of GCC organizations and offices, which will help rationalize spending and avoid duplicity.
It is also expected to ensure smooth work of GCC organizations and their integration into GCC joint efforts for common benefits, the spokesman said.
The current meeting of the labor ministers will honor GCC companies, which played a leading role in the nationalization of the jobs in the GCC countries, and owners of distinguished small-scale enterprises in the member countries.
The outcome from the meeting will help activate common working mechanisms and help achieve the requirements of the Gulf labor market.

Source: Arab News