Geneva:Egypt’s Labour Minister Hassan Raddad emphasized the need for continuous international funding to support Palestinian employment and protect workers' rights during a meeting in Geneva. He stressed that these rights should not be subjected to political considerations, asserting that regional stability and peace rely on social justice and the rights of Palestinians to live and work with dignity.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with Qatar and the Netherlands. It aimed to gather financial and political backing for the Decent Work and Recovery Programme for the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 2026 to 2029. Participants included various officials, government representatives, employers, workers, and international development partners.

Raddad highlighted the severe economic and employment crisis affecting Palestinians, citing data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and ILO reports. Over half a million jobs have been lost, with unemployment rates exceeding 80 percent in Gaza and nearly 29 percent in the West Bank. This has left many families unable to meet basic needs. He called for sustainable financial commitments and outlined Egypt’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian national labor-sector strategy through flexible financing, labor market revival, and technical assistance.

The ILO's recent program aims to address employment and enterprise recovery, social protection, and labor-market governance, placing a strong emphasis on workers' rights. The disruption in Palestinian livelihoods began in 2023 when Israel expelled thousands of workers back to Gaza. Raddad urged for the immediate release of withheld wages and removal of movement restrictions, advocating for comprehensive recovery efforts that align humanitarian relief with sustainable development and peace.