OIC gears up for 5th Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers in Baku, focus on innovative solutions

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is gearing up for the 5th Session of the Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM) scheduled to take place from November 21st to 23rd, 2023, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The theme for this conference is “Innovative Solutions and Digitalization of Labour and Employment Services in OIC Member States.”

Hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MLSPP), the conference will assemble labor ministers from OIC Member States. Their discussions will center around pressing issues in the evolving world of work, encompassing the impact of new technologies, employment trends, and social protection.

This gathering provides a platform for OIC labor ministers to assess the progress in implementing resolutions from previous ICLM sessions and the OIC Labour Market Strategy. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to deliberate on OIC institutions’ activities aimed at addressing unemployment, developing workforce capacity, and enhancing social protection in Member States.

A notable highlight of the ICLM will be the inaugural session of the General Assembly of the newly established OIC Labour Centre. With its headquarters in Baku, Azerbaijan, this specialized institution will be a focal point of discussion, emphasizing the conference’s commitment to supporting this nascent OIC body.

The OIC Ministerial Conference on Labour holds particular importance as it fosters collaboration among Member States, especially in the crucial areas of job creation, given the high levels of unemployment, particularly among the youth, in many OIC countries. The activation of the OIC Labour Centre is expected to further encourage mutually beneficial cooperation among OIC Member States in labor, employment, and social protection.