Visit by Regional Director for Arab States to Damascus highlights importance of inclusive employment policies and strong labour institutions in Syria’s recovery efforts.
DAMASCUS (ILO News) – As Syria enters a pivotal phase of emerging from years of crisis, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has reaffirmed its support for a national recovery rooted in decent work, social justice and inclusive economic growth. ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat concluded a visit to Damascus during which she met with key national partners, including the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and employer and worker representatives.
The visit comes at a critical moment for Syria, which is navigating a complex post-conflict landscape characterised by widespread economic hardship, high unemployment and the urgent need to restore basic livelihoods and public services. The ILO’s engagement aims to ensure that labour rights, employment creation and institutional reform are placed at the heart of recovery and peace-building efforts in the country, even as humanitarian assistance is still underway.
During their meeting, Jaradat and Minister Hind Kabawat discussed scaling up ILO support to advance nationally identified labour market priorities, including skills development, social protection, the promotion of labour rights, labour law reform, institutional capacity-building and vocational training. They also discussed preparations for a high-level workshop scheduled for late June, which will bring together representatives of governments, employers and workers from Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. The event will provide a platform to examine the impact of recent political and economic developments on labour markets in Syria and the wider region and to explore coordinated responses.
With Vice President of the Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry Louay Nahlawi, talks focused on industrial revitalisation, skills development and legislative reforms to create an enabling business environment. The meeting with President of the General Federation of Trade Unions Fawaz al-Ahmad explored promoting internal democratisation, skills development, rebuilding infrastructure, legislative reforms and occupational safety and health.
“Syria’s people and institutions are demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination. What struck me most during my visit was the vast potential of the Syrian labour market to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity,” said Jaradat. “But recovery in Syria will not be possible without rebuilding infrastructure, decent jobs, functioning labour institutions and protection for all. The ILO is committed to working with our national and development partners and within the wider UN system to build a foundation for social justice, sustainable livelihoods and a fair labour market that leaves no one behind.”
Since re-establishing its physical presence in Syria in 2023, the ILO has expanded cooperation with its national partners to support legal reform, occupational safety and health, social dialogue, social protection, employment promotion and job creation.
Ongoing ILO-supported initiatives, funded by the governments of Japan and Italy, include advancing the textile and garment sector – a major industrial sector in the country – through skills assessments and efforts to expand access to market, as well as creating immediate jobs in infrastructure rehabilitation works. Preparations are underway to conduct a labour force survey across four governorates to generate data for evidence-based policymaking. An actuarial assessment of the contributory national social security system is currently ongoing to support the expansion of social protection coverage.
Pipeline initiatives include new investment projects in Aleppo and rural areas focused on job creation and infrastructure rehabilitation, a work-based skills development initiative, the promotion of equal pay and a minimum wage system, an occupational safety and health (OSH) training centre in an industrial zone near Damascus, and a programme targeting skills mapping and reintegration support for returnees and internally displaced persons. Further efforts are ongoing to scale up durable solutions for displaced populations.
The ILO is expanding its Programme of Support for Syria and aligning it with the United Nations Syria Transitional Action Plan (TAP), which seeks to bridge the humanitarian, development and peace pillars in a coordinated and locally driven approach. Through its Programme of Support, the ILO is identifying further priority areas for intervention over the next 18 months, ensuring coherence with broader UN objectives and national priorities.