BUSINESSMED, represented by its President, Saida Neghza, and its General Secretary, Jihen Boutiba, took part in the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Union for the Mediterranean on Employment and Labour, held in Cascais, Portugal, on 2 and 3 April 2019.

Participants focused on the most urgent labour market needs in the Euro-Mediterranean region, including the persistence of inequalities in access to employment, especially for women and young people.

Faced with this situation, the Ministers stressed that economic progress and social cohesion must go hand in hand. They stressed the importance of developing skills and talent, particularly in the digital sector, to meet new demands in the labour market. They also highlighted the potential of the social and solidarity economy to combat the excessive share of the informal economy.

Taking part on a roundtable discussion on how to integrate vulnerable and disadvantaged groups into the labour market, the BUSINESSMED General Secretary, Mrs  Jihene Boutiba said: « This Ministerial meeting is a significant opportunity to transform our collective thinking into concrete policies and projects tailored to real needs and contributing effectively to stability, economic and social progress. We need to involve social partners more in the decision-making process. It is urgent to set up initiatives to promote social dialogue in the Southern Mediterranean, certain countries might inspire which in the North. The issues of peace, security and economic growth in our region are interdependent. We share the same geography and history, the same challenges, but also the same opportunities. »

On the second day of the Ministerial Conference, the President of BUSINESSMED, Mrs Saida Neghza, took part in a Round Table on recent developments in employment and work where she stated: « Social actors contribute significantly, not only to economic challenges but also to promote long-term sustainable development. BUSINESSMED is committed to implementing the results of the 2008 and 2016 declarations. »