Latest news with #MinistryofLaborandSocialAffairs
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Afghanistan to deploy 2000 workers to Qatar amid rising unemployment
Afghanistan's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has announced the planned deployment of 2,000 Afghan workers to Qatar, offering legal employment opportunities amid growing unemployment and an influx of returning refugees, Khaama Press reported. As the program rolls out, Afghan authorities say it could ease some of the burden on the domestic labor market.(AP) According to a statement issued by the Taliban-run ministry on Wednesday, July 23, and posted on its official X account, "Qatar has allocated an additional 1,300 job opportunities for Afghan workers," bringing the total to 2,000 laborers set to be deployed in the upcoming phases. Khaama Press reported that the initiative marks the beginning of a broader program aimed at facilitating the legal deployment of Afghan workers abroad. The ministry noted that the number of job opportunities is expected to rise significantly in the future. Coordination has already taken place between Kabul and Qatari officials to implement the labor deployment in stages. Khaama Press cited the ministry as saying that registration centers and application criteria will be announced soon for Afghan citizens interested in applying. Afghanistan is currently grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis, including widespread poverty, food insecurity, and the collapse of public services. The crisis has been compounded by the large-scale return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, especially Pakistan and Iran, where many had sought work and shelter. With limited employment prospects at home, thousands of returnees and local residents are struggling to support their families. Khaama Press highlighted that the lack of formal work programs has left many Afghans in economic distress, exacerbating the country's instability. As the program rolls out, Afghan authorities say it could ease some of the burden on the domestic labor market, while also offering hope to job seekers seeking legal and safe employment abroad, Khaama Press added. Yet even as Afghanistan looks outward for employment solutions, its global mobility remains severely limited. Afghanistan's passport has been ranked the least powerful in the world in 2025, offering visa-free access to just 26 countries, reflecting the country's deepening global isolation, as reported by Khaama Press. According to the Henley Passport Index for 2025, Afghanistan was ranked 106th, at the bottom of the global list, making it the most restricted passport worldwide. The annual index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter without a visa. Khaama Press reported that Afghanistan's travel freedom continues to shrink. In 2024, the country ranked 104th. The two-rank drop in 2025 highlights a further erosion in the country's global mobility, leaving Afghan citizens increasingly cut off from the rest of the world. Meanwhile, Singapore topped the Henley Index in 2025, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 195 countries. Japan followed with access to 193 destinations. Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain jointly secured third place, with visa-free access to 192 countries. By contrast, Afghan passport holders can travel without a visa to only 26 countries, including Sri Lanka, Somalia, Kenya, Cambodia, and Bangladesh, Khaama Press noted. The drastic gap underscores the limited options available to Afghan citizens for international movement. Despite the Taliban's control over the country, Afghan passports continue to be printed with the emblem of the former government, Khaama Press reported. The report also highlighted how this, combined with severe political instability and economic collapse, has worsened migration trends, even as acquiring a passport has become increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens. Khaama Press further stated that the consistent decline in the power of Afghanistan's passport mirrors the nation's worsening diplomatic and economic standing. The limited global access not only restricts individual movement but also reflects broader issues of international exclusion and lack of recognition. Experts note that unless Afghanistan addresses its core challenges, including governance issues, economic recovery, and efforts to gain international legitimacy, the passport is likely to remain at the bottom of global rankings for the foreseeable future.
Shafaq News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Labor Minister calls on firms to hire Iraqis over foreigners
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi urged recruitment firms on Monday to prioritize Iraqi workers and reduce reliance on foreign labor. During a meeting with company representatives, al-Asadi pressed firms to invest in local talent—particularly in oil, electricity, and investment sectors—citing their capacity to stimulate domestic job growth, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. He noted that despite their active role in the labor market, many companies still favor foreign hires over qualified Iraqi candidates. Al-Asadi pledged support for firms committed to shifting their hiring strategies, affirming the ministry's readiness to streamline legal procedures for those generating local employment. The discussion also addressed licensing delays, excessive work permit fees, and restrictive residency rules for foreign employees, with al-Asadi directing relevant departments to review these challenges and draft legal amendments. He concluded by reaffirming the ministry's support for capable, outcome-focused firms, stressing that their success must directly benefit the Iraqi labor market.
Shafaq News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Syria's Labor Ministry: Committed to stabilizing the job market
Shafaq News/ Syria's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs reaffirmed on Tuesday its commitment to supporting Syrian workers both at home and abroad, with a focus on achieving balance in the country's labor market. Speaking to Shafaq News Agency, Khalil Awad, Director of Labor Regulation at the Ministry, stated that efforts are ongoing to ensure equality between Syrian and non-Syrian workers under Labor Law No. 17 of 2010. 'Articles 2 and 4 of the law stipulate equal rights and obligations for all workers, while also safeguarding local labor from unfair competition,' Awad explained. He added that despite this principle of equality, the law imposes specific requirements on foreign workers. 'Articles 27 to 30 of the same legislation mandate that non-Syrian workers obtain work permits, and Ministerial Decree No. 888 of 2016 outlines the procedures for granting such permits,' he said. According to Awad, these measures are intended to maintain proper regulation and order in the labor market. Regarding Syrians employed abroad, Awad described them as 'an invaluable national asset,' emphasizing their positive contributions to the economies of their host countries. 'We are currently working to create an attractive work environment inside Syria to encourage their return and involvement in the reconstruction process,' he added, revealing that the Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates to compile accurate statistics on Syrians working overseas. Domestically, the Ministry is expanding initiatives to train and employ youth. Awad highlighted the Ministry's oversight of several NGOs that offer specialized vocational training programs in partnership with the Ministries of Industry, Education, and Housing. 'We are in the process of integrating national digital platforms related to vocational training, under labor regulations, to improve accessibility to resources and training opportunities,' Awad said. He concluded that the overarching goal is to ensure effective coordination among relevant institutions and build a comprehensive training environment aligned with market needs.
Rudaw Net
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq kicks off compensation program for Yazidi survivors of ISIS
Also in Iraq Iraqi army blocks Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk's Sargaran Baghdad, Erbil reach agreement to revive stalled trade Dust storm hospitalizes over 200 in Kirkuk Around 550 hospitalized across Iraq due to intense dust storm A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has begun distributing monthly salaries to more than 2,300 Kurdish Yazidi women and girls who survived atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS), as part of a national compensation effort for survivors. Speaking to Rudaw on Thursday, Sarab Elias, director of Yazidi Survivors Affairs at the ministry, said that the 'support is provided under Law No. 8, enacted by the Iraqi parliament in March 2021. The legislation guarantees compensation for all individuals who survived ISIS captivity. Each eligible survivor will be receiving a monthly stipend of 800,000 Iraqi dinars (around $565). 'This is a critical step in delivering justice and support to the Yazidi community after years of unimaginable suffering,' Elias stated. Importantly, the law extends to Yazidi women and girls regardless of where they currently reside. So far, 150 applications have been submitted from abroad, with 120 cases already interviewed. In mid-December, Iraqi authorities began conducting remote video conference interviews with Yazidi survivors living overseas. These interviews are held weekly, typically every Thursday, and are conducted by Iraqi judges connecting virtually from within the country. The majority of these video conferences are taking place at Iraqi embassies and consulates in countries like Germany and France, where large Yazidi diaspora communities reside. According to Elias, between three and five interviews are conducted each week. The compensation initiative is part of broader national efforts to acknowledge and address the trauma endured by Yazidis under ISIS. In June 2014, ISIS took control of large areas in northern and western Iraq. Two months later, in August, the group launched a brutal assault on the Yazidi community in the Shingal (Sinjar) district, resulting in the abduction of 6,417 Yazidi women and children. Many were subjected to sexual slavery and forced labor. As of now, 2,590 Yazidis remain missing, according to the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis, affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Presidency. An estimated 200,000 Yazidis were also displaced from Shingal during the onslaught, many of whom continue to live in displacement camps across the Kurdistan Region, particularly in Duhok province. The United Nations has officially recognized the campaign against the Yazidis as a genocide.
Iraqi News
19-04-2025
- Health
- Iraqi News
Four Iraqis for Every Foreigner: Ministry of Labor Sets New Mechanism for Recruiting Foreign Workers in Medical Specialties
Baghdad – INA The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced a new mechanism on Saturday for the recruitment of foreign workers in medical specialties, emphasizing a requirement that for every 20 foreign workers brought in, 80 Iraqis must be employed. Ministry spokesperson Hassan Khuwam told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): 'The Department of Labor and Vocational Training is focused on implementing the provisions of Labor Law No. 37 of 2015.' He noted that 'during a meeting between the Prime Minister's health advisor and the Director General of the Department of Labor and Vocational Training, the ministry requested that rare medical specialties, including skilled nurses with rare expertise, be prioritized for recruitment.' He added that 'the ministry also requested the implementation of a policy whereby for every 20 foreign workers brought into the country, 80 Iraqis must be employed. This aims to activate the Iraqi workforce and combat unemployment by creating job opportunities for young unemployed citizens.' He further pointed out that 'one of the key pillars of the government's program is to provide employment opportunities and eliminate unemployment.'
