Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility opens in Dar es Salaam

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Senior officials and experts from over 33 Gulf Cooperation Council, African, and Arab countries convened in Dar es Salaam for the second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility to promote practical cooperation on labour movement between Africa and GCC states. The meeting emphasized turning the Doha Declaration on Labour Mobility into actionable measures with clear responsibilities and metrics to improve worker protections and skills alignment in both regions.

Senior officials and experts from more than 33 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), African, and Arab countries gathered in Dar es Salaam on October 5-6 for the second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility between Africa and the GCC+. The two-day meeting aimed to advance shared commitments into practical and measurable cooperation across the entire labour mobility cycle.

The Dialogue, co-chaired by Tanzania, Qatar, and the African Union, brought together national delegations, the African Union Commission, and several international and regional organizations, including the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Council of Ministers of Social Affairs, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Arab Labour Organisation (ALO), and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), alongside senior officials, specialists, and civil society representatives.

In her opening remarks, Her Excellency Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman al-Thani, Undersecretary of Qatar’s Ministry of Labour, welcomed attendees and expressed appreciation to Tanzania for hosting the event. She also acknowledged the role of the African Union Commission and partner organizations in preparing and supporting the Dialogue. Sheikha Najwa emphasized that holding the meeting in Africa reflected a balanced partnership between countries of origin and destination, underscoring a collective responsibility among participating states to foster a more orderly, equitable, and productive future for labour mobility.

She highlighted the Doha Declaration on Labour Mobility, adopted in May 2024, as a foundational agreement that provides a basis for cooperation. However, she stressed that the initiative’s success should be measured by tangible outcomes rather than the frequency of meetings or discussions. She called on delegates to prioritize identifying concrete areas for joint implementation, assigning clear responsibilities, and establishing credible metrics to assess progress.

Zuhura Yunus, Tanzania’s deputy permanent secretary for Labour, Employment and Relations at the Prime Minister’s Office, described the Dialogue as a critical forum to address key challenges and develop actionable recommendations for ministerial consideration. She advocated for enhanced collaboration among labour administrations on issues such as labour inspection, wage protection, and occupational safety and health.

Mohammed Hassan al-Obaidli, director-general of the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Council of Ministers of Social Affairs, praised Qatar’s leadership in initiating and sustaining the Dialogue. He welcomed Tanzania’s role as host of the second edition and recognized the African Union Commission and other partners for maintaining momentum. Al-Obaidli drew attention to the GCC’s advances in education and vocational training, highlighting efforts to anticipate future skills demands and align training programmes with labour market needs.

Established through an agreement between Qatar and the African Union, the Doha Dialogue functions as a voluntary, non-binding, and state-led consultative platform. It facilitates the exchange of expertise and best practices, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships that enhance labour mobility from Africa to GCC states.

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