“We stress the importance of investing in young people, developing their skills, and providing them with a decent life,” added Minister Shehata.

He said young people are the “main engine of development in all countries, especially the developing ones.”

"It is important to provide the youth with the necessary skills to obtain sustainable employment all while taking into account the current transition towards the green economy as well as digital transformation/digitization," he affirmed.

Protecting all workers 
 

The minister said job creation and safeguarding labour rights have been at the top of the country's priorities under President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

Egypt has implemented multiple social protection measures in the labour sector to help workers face global challenges, he noted.

"We have also implemented policies to support and empower women to achieve gender balance in the labour market," he added.

In conclusion, Shehata called on all relevant actors to aid Egypt in its endeavours.

EWG and G20 Summit
 

The fourth G-20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting was chaired by the Indian Minister for Labour and  Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav.

It witnessed the participation of ministers of labour from 24 countries.

The meeting discussed topics related to the challenges and developments of the labour market such as employment policies and social protection.

It also focused on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration and outcome documents and brings representatives from G20 members and guest countries, international and regional organizations, along with groups such as Business-20, Labor-20, Startup-20, Think-20, and Youth-20.

The EWG aims to present joint recommendations on international labour issues to G20 Summit that is set to be held in September in order to ensure sustainable employment.

Member countries account for 80 percent of the gross world product (GWP), 75 percent of the global trade volume, and 60 percent of the world’s population.

The G20 Summit will discuss issues of immediate priority for Egypt, Africa, and the developing countries, such as food, energy, climate, development finance, and global economic system reform, according to Ambassador Ragy El-Etreby, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International and Regional Multilateral Economic Affairs and the prospective representative of President El-Sisi at the Summit.

The EWG meeting was organized in five thematic sessions which covered different aspects of the global economy: global health; sustainable finance and Infrastructure; international financial architecture; international taxation; as well as financial sector and financial inclusion.

Egypt received an invitation to attend the summit last November.