Minister of Manpower Hassan Shehata delivered the remarks on behalf of El-Sisi on Sunday in a speech during the 48th session of the Arab Labour Conference organised by the Arab Labour Organisation (ALO) in Egypt with the attendance of labour ministers and representatives of trade unions from 21 Arab countries.

The conference kicked off on Sunday and is running until 25 September.

In his remarks, El-Sisi affirmed that global developments require the Arabs, who are also witnessing political, economic, and social challenges, to prioritise joint Arab work, said a statement by the Egyptian manpower ministry.

“It is time for prioritising national interest and renouncing disputes and strife whose igniters seek to obliterate the Arab identity and tamper with the capabilities of our peoples,” El-Sisi stressed.

The president also called for a realistic assessment of all global changes and pressed for quick action to achieve Arab economic integration.

The Egyptian government will continue to support Arab national interests and renounce disputes that are plotted to obliterate the Arab identity, said El-Sisi.

The president urged Arab countries to march toward unity in order to achieve development, knowledge, creativity and innovation. He also called for taking the initiative to block the endeavours of those tampering with Arab capabilities.

This can be achieved by setting realistic and achievable goals in accordance with specific and clear timetables, El-Sisi affirmed.

Egypt will always act toward a comprehensive settlement to all problems facing the Arab world, particularly the Palestinian cause, he assured.

Easing effects of unemployment

Speaking during the conference, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Abul-Gheit called for increasing cooperation and continued coordination among the Arab states to ease the negative economic and social effects of unemployment, which remains a key challenge in the Arab world.

The unemployment file has not been given due attention in the Arab world, particularly with the lack of coordination between education and the labor market and in light of the increasing population and poverty in Arab states, he said.

Abul-Gheit called for exerting unified efforts to face challenges in this regard.

Abul Gheit's address was read out on his behalf by Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Hussein Hindawi.

The 48th Arab Labour Conference kicked off in Cairo today under the chairmanship of Morocco and the auspices of El-Sisi.

Representatives of the General Secretariat of the Arab League and delegates of Arab and international agencies are among the attendees, along with several diplomats and public figures.

The conference is set to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the foundation of the ALO in 1965, which was to be held two years ago but was postponed due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

The celebration will involve honouring a number of representatives of some member countries of the ALO and the three production parties for their key role in serving the labour and worker issues in the Arab world, according to an earlier statement by the manpower ministry.