BEIRUT — Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar left Beirut for Cairo on Friday, to participate in the 51st annual Arab Labor Conference, where he is heading a delegation from the ministry that includes his advisor and several employees, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Running from April 19 to April 25, the conference is attended by Arab labor ministers as well as representatives of employers and workers from across the Arab world.

Haidar will speak on Lebanon's behalf on April 19, in an address that reportedly focuses on the main challenges facing the Lebanese labor market and highlights Arab cooperation. Lebanon has been grappling with a profound economic crisis since 2019 that saw the majority of the population thrust into poverty. According to Blominvest, by the end of 2024, more than a third of Lebanon's population was unemployed.

The Arab Labor Conference is an annual regional event organized by the Arab Labor Organization under the League of Arab States. Its attendees often include labor ministers, representatives of workers' unions, employers' organizations, and experts from across the Arab world to discuss labor and employment issues affecting the region.

Its agenda includes efforts to develop regional labor frameworks that align with international standards, with outcomes including recommendations, resolutions, and coordinated efforts to advance labor development in Arab countries.