The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held a high-level event during the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) to advance resilience and recovery through decent work. The initiative reaffirmed that employment, social justice, and workers’ rights are essential foundations for peace and sustainable development in crisis-affected communities. The discussions aimed to build global momentum for integrating decent work principles into recovery and resilience strategies, focusing on job creation, social protection, and institutional strengthening.
Guided by ILO Recommendation No. 205 and the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus, the event explored practical and scalable solutions to promote employment and fair labour practices while addressing challenges such as child labour and informality. Francesco d’Ovidio, Director of the ILO Office for the State of Qatar, stressed that job creation and worker protection form the cornerstone of peace and human dignity. Jordan’s Minister of Social Development, H.E. Wafaa Bani Mustafa, highlighted the country’s success in balancing humanitarian response with sustainable development despite limited resources, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in transforming crises into opportunities.
H.E. Hind Kabawat, Syria’s Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, underlined the importance of human capital and social protection in national recovery, particularly for returning Syrian citizens. Ambassador Tarek El Nabulsi of the League of Arab States noted the growing role of private enterprises in promoting economic self-reliance by supporting entrepreneurial initiatives for people with disabilities and productive families. He emphasized that such efforts represent a broader shift toward integrating decent work principles into market systems to ensure sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion.
The discussion further highlighted the need to place people at the heart of recovery processes. UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, stressed that recovery efforts should enable people to sustain themselves and their families by creating long-term livelihood opportunities early in the response. Participants from Jordan, Syria, and Ukraine shared experiences illustrating how decent work contributes to stability and resilience. Vasyl Shylov from the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine underscored the importance of social dialogue in protecting workers, calling for a fair and inclusive recovery.
Jordan’s National Council for Family Affairs representative, Mohammed Fakhri Farhn Mogdadi, presented efforts to combat child labour through a comprehensive approach combining legislation, prevention, and social protection. A UNHCR representative emphasized the importance of promoting self-reliance from the start of displacement by aligning humanitarian and development interventions and integrating refugees with host communities.
The event concluded with strong acknowledgment of support from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany, as well as a shared commitment among partners to strengthen collaboration, scale up inclusive initiatives, and ensure that decent work remains central to recovery and long-term development in crisis-affected regions.
