Participation of Iraqi Business council Deputy Chairman & Secretary General in the Meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on “Diagnosing the Informal Sector in Iraq”

At a personal invitation extended by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Iraqi Business Council Deputy Chairman and Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji participated on Tuesday, September 14th 2021 in the meeting held by (ILO) via Zoom application, on “Diagnosing the Informal Sector in Iraq” Project and setting a strategy for the transition to formal economy in Iraq.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Women Organization (UNWO), International Migration Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU), in addition to a number of other international organizations take part in the implementation of the strategy.

The meeting included a special review by (ILO) Regional Coordinator in Iraq Dr. Maha Qattaa on the progress of “Diagnosing the Informal Sector in Iraq” Project, including the activities and outputs, followed by presentation by the representative of FAFO Research Foundation – Mr. Theodoros Kebede – on the results of the second round of the data on the impact of Corona Virus on workers and organizations in Iraq, and (ILO) expert Mr. Mohammad Al-Maayteh gave a presentation on the observations he reached after a series of meetings with partners and stakeholders in the Project including the Iraqi Business Council, which is the only institution inside and outside Iraq that has been selected by the International Labor Organization to be the main partner in setting the strategy for the transition to formal economy in Iraq.

Then the ILO expert Ms. Miranda Wegermann discussed updating the legal review of the Project.  During the meeting, IBC Deputy Chairman and Secretary General Dr. Saad Naji participated with an important intervention, in which he wondered about the support provided by the Iraqi government to the affected sectors in the Iraq private sector, and the extent of its impact on the study being conducted by ILO concerning the informal economy in Iraq.

The meeting was attended by experts from government institutions, the United Nations Agencies, development partners and international organizations in Iraq.