Beirut, 21 October 2025--Inclusive work environments remain one of the most significant challenges to empowering persons with disabilities and promoting comprehensive and equitable employment. In response, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), today launched the "Arab Inclusive Employment and Entrepreneurship Compact" during a regional conference held at the United Nations House in Beirut.
The Compact serves as a collective regional commitment to foster inclusive employment and entrepreneurship ecosystems. It seeks to mobilize progressive commitments from the private sector to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market through concrete, responsible, and measurable actions aligned with international standards.
"Experience has taught us that inclusion in employment and entrepreneurship is not just a social aspect but bears an economic and developmental value that brings in new blood and creative minds, who contribute to the community in a more humane and fair way," Lebanese Minister of Labour Mohammad Haidar pointed out. "The success of any inclusion policy does not rely on legislations alone, but on the social beliefs and principles; whereas societies that embrace their diversity are those that are most capable of innovation and endurance," he added.
In the Arab region, available data show that employment rates for persons with disabilities remain significantly lower than those of persons without disabilities, despite the existence of national legislation and policies that safeguard their right to work. This gap is not due to a lack of ability or willingness to work, but rather reflects the persistence of cultural, organizational, and physical barriers within workplaces that hinder equal participation. Overcoming these barriers is essential to achieving equality and decent work for all.
For her part, ESCWA Deputy Executive Secretary for Programmes Mehrinaz El Awady dubbed the conference as pivotal for the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities. "Empowering persons with disabilities at the economic level is not a mere human rights issue, but a key driver for development and prosperity," she said. "Ignoring this group would lead to a major loss of talents and individual capabilities, and for national economies, which we at ESCWA had estimated to be of about $28.5 billion per year, almost 2% of the gross domestic product."
Meanwhile, ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat considered the launch of the Compact "a significant step in building comprehensive social protection systems, as well as in developing inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems." She pointed out that "only 16% receive financial disability support in the Arab region, compared to a global average of 39%, not to mention the major challenges women face in securing decent work due to physical, societal, and digital barriers."
Representatives from Kuwait and Oman also delivered remarks, reaffirming their countries' commitment to supporting regional efforts to promote inclusivity in the labour market and to sharing experiences and best practices for integrating persons with disabilities into economic and social development. They further highlighted the importance of collective Arab cooperation to implement the Compact' and to translate it into concrete policies and programmes on the ground.
Participants exchanged best practices and policies promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in employment and entrepreneurship. They also highlighted case studies from the Arab region and beyond to strengthen South-South dialogue and knowledge exchange on inclusive labour market strategies.
On the sidelines of the conference, a career fair was also held, bringing together inclusive companies in Lebanon to showcase their experiences to students and jobseekers with disabilities. The fair provided a valuable opportunity for participants to explore diverse career paths, connect with employers, and learn about available training, internship, and employment opportunities in the Lebanese labour market.
