A little bit of history was made on Monday when Qatar, represented by the country’s Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, assumed presidency of the 111th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is the first time Qatar was chosen for the honour since the setting up of the organization in 1919.

First Time Since ILO's Inception, #Qatar Elected as President of International Labour Conference. #QNAhttps://t.co/EqlXxwnRjdhttps://t.co/veQ3KL8sUi pic.twitter.com/LjEC5ScRLj

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) June 5, 2023

Al Marri was elected President of the conference in the presence of 5,000 participants which included many heads of states, prime ministers and workers who are members of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, which runs until June 16 this year, sets the ILO’s general policies, including agreements and recommendations. It also takes decisions on the ILO’s programme of work and budget, in addition to electing members of the Governing board.

HE Dr @AliBinSamikh, Minister of Labour, was elected as the President of the 111th @ilo Conference in Geneva. In his welcome address, he emphasised the importance of building social dialogue and prioritising sustainable change.#ILC2023 pic.twitter.com/7nwxCTlJnN

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) June 5, 2023

Qatar’s election as the conference’s chair in the United Nations building was an acknowledgement of the country’s recent achievements in various fields and international forums.

Al Marri’s appointment as President of the International Labour Conference can be seen as an international vote of confidence on Qatar’s integrity and commitment to enhancing and developing the work environment.

It also serves as a testament to the successful collaboration with international labour organisations and unions that Qatar has fostered.

HE Dr @AliBinSamikh, Minister of Labour, addressed the 111th session of the @ilo, following the announcement of his election to preside over the conference. HE emphasised that #Qatar is committed to forming alliances with global organisations to enhance working conditions. pic.twitter.com/x0ah1VPvyO

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) June 5, 2023

“I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to perform this honorable duty, and I’ll do my best, with my colleagues in office, to direct the work of the conference on the basis of its well-established traditions, principles and guidelines. I’ll spare no effort to ensure the success of this conference and I’m counting on your valuable support to this end,” said Al Marri, immediately after being elected as President.

“The selection of Qatar for this role is a matter of immense pride for both the country and the Asia-Pacific region. I’m happy that the 111th session is also the first opportunity to meet everyone personally since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

Congratulations HE Dr Ali Samikh, Minister of Labour of Qatar for being elected as President of ILO Conference 2023-24 @QatarLabour_GE @QatarUniversity @qatarlabour pic.twitter.com/7KIGzK9XNq

— Zaini Ujang (@ZainiUjang2) June 5, 2023

“This year’s International Labour Conference comes at a time when the world is facing multiple crises. It makes the current session an appropriate time to discuss issues related to workers, employers and governments around the world,” Al Marri said.

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