78 percent of Gulf workers are expatriates, says Khaled Al-Sunaidi
GCC focuses on labor market integration, social protections, and workforce localization
Kuwait hosted the 11th meeting of the Committee of Undersecretaries of Labor Ministries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on Tuesday, with Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Marzouq Al-Otaibi highlighting the GCC’s commitment to advancing labor systems and addressing shared challenges.
Al-Otaibi said the meeting covered strategic issues in Gulf labor markets, initiatives on workforce nationalization and private sector employment, labor development, and the enhancement of social protections and rights for working women, reports Al-Rai daily.
He described the gathering as a continuation of joint Gulf action, providing a valuable platform to develop common solutions that improve societal well-being and support sustainable development.
Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs of the GCC, Khaled Al-Sunaidi, emphasized that the labor sector is a key pillar of sustainable development in the Gulf.
He explained that the meeting aims to strengthen coordination and integration across work and development sectors, unify efforts to improve the work environment, and develop joint policies and programs to boost the GCC’s competitiveness regionally and internationally.
Al-Sunaidi also highlighted the composition of the Gulf labor market in the second quarter of 2024, noting that it included over 24 million workers, of whom more than 19 million — over 78 percent — were expatriates.
He stressed the need for greater balance between workforce localization and the effective use of skilled labor, while noting that global challenges necessitate continued coordination and joint action among GCC states.
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