Libya has reached an agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to prepare a memorandum of understanding to “benefit from the Kingdom’s experience in organizing the labor market, worker housing and job inspection, in addition to supporting entrepreneurial projects,” Libyan Minister of Labor and Rehabilitation Ali Al-Abed Al-Rida told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dispatched to Libya a delegation, headed by Dmitri Gershenson, who concluded that the country needed a clear economic vision and technical assistance, as well as a defined strategy to diversify its activities away from hydrocarbons.
Libya was exposed to devastating floods in September, which further exhausted its economy and claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people.
Al-Abed Al-Rida stressed that the memorandum of understanding seeks to allow Libya to benefit from the Kingdom’s experience in managing foreign labor, noting that the labor force in his country “is very large and lacks proper organization.”
He added that Tripoli aims to take advantage of the Kingdom’s experience in terms of supporting the private sector and enhancing its communication with public institutions, in addition to “nationalizing important and sensitive professions” to create job opportunities for the youth.
During a visit to Riyadh, the Libyan minister met with Saudi Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain on the sidelines of his participation in the first edition of the Global Labor Market Conference.
Al-Abed Al-Rida pointed out that his country aims to raise female participation in the labor market to more than 20 percent, stressing that the role of women has become very important thanks to their great skills, especially in leadership and administrative positions.
In a report in June, the World Bank said the Libyan economy registered a contraction of 1.2 percent in 2022, while unemployment reached 19.6 percent.
