Oman submits Arab Group's plea to amend decision on ILO emergency response in Lebanon

Geneva: Acting in collaboration with the Arab Group, the Sultanate of Oman has submitted several amendments to a proposed resolution regarding the “International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s support for the emergency response to the crisis in Lebanon”.

The amendments include calling for the protection of essential facilities that serve the Lebanese population, welcoming diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and seeking a future report from the ILO Director-General on the impact of the crisis on the labour market in Lebanon, along with updates on the implementation of the emergency plan at the next session of the ILO Governing Body 353.

This was unveiled in a statement delivered by Idris Abdul Rahman Al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, on behalf of the Arab Group seeking support for emergency response to the crisis in Lebanon.

The statement was delivered during the ILO Governing Body’s 352nd session.

Al Khanjari said that the Arab Group feels deeply concerned about the serious impacts of the aggression on ILO activities in Lebanon and the region at large.

He added that this aggression caused catastrophic conditions for workers and employers, coupled with long-term economic impacts of the indiscriminate bombing that struck the infrastructure of economic, industrial and tourism sectors and destroyed small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Al Khanjari pointed out that the Arab Group welcomes the ILO’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of Lebanese citizens and values the international organisation’s prompt action to assess the current situation, right from the first day of the war.

The statement also lauded the ILO’s devising an intervention plan based on response to the emergency situation, notably by strengthening social protection, restoring infrastructure, maintaining employment and supporting livelihoods.

Al Khanjari requested the ILO Director General to provide a more comprehensive report during upcoming sessions of the ILO’s Governing Body “to elaborate on the outcome of implementation of the emergency response plan in Lebanon”.

He also sought a more comprehensive assessment of the long-term impacts of this aggression on the labour market and socio-economic conditions in Lebanon.