Unemployment conditions in the Arab world

The director general of the Arab Labor Organization (ALO) Ibrahim Qeider has called for the implementation of the common Arab market and to open, with more seriousness the file of Arab economic integration in order to challenge the negative impacts of September 11 attacks on the Arab economy.

In a statement to the Egyptian daily al-Ahram, Qeider added that there is great and continued cooperation between the ALO and the economic unity council to this effect. He also noted a direct contact with the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa who is greatly interested in this file."

On the impact of September 11 incidents and its implications on the rate of unemployment in the Arab states. He explained that unemployment rate in the Arab states was 14% and expected this rate to increase until between 16- 17%, noting that this is a terrible unemployment increase which effects qualified young generation. He also indicated the non Arab labor force work in the Gulf states as constituting a danger to the Arab active labor forces.

He also indicated another very important issue which is the expatriate Arab labor force which has started to suffer a large problem after September 11 and harassed. A situation that will lead to the return back of this forces to their homeland and thereby creating an inflation in the Arab labor market.