Iraq, ILO work towards generating large-scale job opportunities
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Planning, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO), held an extended consultation workshop on Wednesday as a crucial step toward creating large-scale employment opportunities and fostering long-term socioeconomic growth.
The workshop was intended to study strategies for creating and executing a National Public Works Program (NPWP) in Iraq, according to a statement released by the ILO.
The initiative is part of the ministry's larger attempts to link employment policies with social protection and climate change plans by investing in labor-intensive projects that potentially provide significant job opportunities.
The strategy focuses on vulnerable labor market groups, such as job searchers enrolled in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs' database and social protection network beneficiaries.
The workshop concluded with several practical proposals, including finalizing the National Roadmap for the Public Works Program, which covers design, finance, governance, and execution mechanisms; launching prototype projects in solar energy, afforestation, construction, and digital infrastructure; increasing the capacity of local actors, partner institutions, and beneficiaries; and fortifying collaborations with civil society and the commercial sector.
This workshop is part of the Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation (BEIT) project, which is funded by the European Union and seeks to accelerate economic growth in Iraq by generating considerable employment opportunities, expanding affordable and sustainable housing projects, and improving the construction sector.
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