A consultative workshop to design a national public works programme for Syria (NPWP) has concluded in the Syrian capital Damascus, marking a significant step toward supporting employment, rebuilding infrastructure and advancing inclusive recovery. The two-day workshop was co-led by the Syria Development Fund and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, in close partnership with employers' and workers' organizations and national institutions, and with technical guidance from the International Labour Organization (ILO), represented at the event by a delegation led by ILO Regional Director for the Arab States Ruba Jaradat.
The workshop convened a distinguished group of national leaders and senior officials, including Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat, Minister of Public Works and Housing Mustafa Abdul Razzaq, Minister of Transport Yarub Badr, Minister of Administrative Development Mohammad Skaff, Minister of Local Administration Mohammad Anjrani, Chairman of the Syria Development Fund Safwat Raslan, Chairman of the Investment Commission Talal Al Hilali, Minister of Tourism Mazen Salhani, Minister of Endowments Mohammad Abu Alkhair Shukri, President of the Planning and Statistics Commission Anas Salim, President of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Syria Fawaz Al Ahmad, The president of Damascus Chamber of Industry Mohamed Ayman Al Moulawi, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Syria Michael Ohnmacht, as well as high-level representatives of UN agencies, embassies, the private sector, and international and national organizations.
The workshop provided a platform to build consensus on the priorities, design features and institutional arrangements of a national programme that aims to generate jobs while restoring and developing essential community assets. The public works programme is envisioned as a strategic national instrument that links short-term employment creation with longer-term labour market recovery, social protection and local economic development.
At a high-level segment of the workshop, ILO Regional Director Jaradat highlighted the urgency of coordinated action to address labour market challenges and support vulnerable populations. She stressed that the public works programmes can play a critical dual role by providing immediate income opportunities while rehabilitating infrastructure that underpins economic recovery and social stability.
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Additionally, the ILO and the Planning and Statistics Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a nationwide Labour Force Survey. The agreement establishes a framework for technical cooperation to produce reliable, up-to-date and internationally comparable labour market data, strengthening Syria's capacity for evidence-based policymaking and supporting recovery, decent work and social protection reforms.
The Labour Force Survey will generate key indicators on employment, unemployment and labour market participation. It will also contribute to monitoring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to decent work and gender equality, while enhancing the resilience of national statistical systems.
During her visit to Damascus, the ILO Regional Director also held high-level meetings with the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat, President of the Planning and Statistics Commission Anas Salim, Chairman of the Damascus and Rural Damascus Chamber of Industry Mohamed Ayman Al Moulawi, and President of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Syria Fawaz Al Ahmad. Discussions focused on aligning support to national priorities, strengthening institutional capacities and ensuring that employment, social protection and labour market governance are addressed through integrated and sustainable approaches.
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"The National Public Works Programme Workshop reflects a shared commitment to place employment at the centre of Syria's recovery. A well-designed public works programme can provide immediate income, restore essential infrastructure and serve as a bridge to longer-term opportunities for women, men, youth, returnees and displaced communities," said Regional Director Jaradat.
"At the same time, the Labour Force Survey we will conduct with the Planning and Statistics Commission will equip Syria with the data needed to design policies that are targeted, inclusive and effective. This is the foundation of sustainable recovery. We are proud to support this process alongside national institutions, employers' and workers' organizations and our international development partners, building on a growing portfolio of ILO programmes that aim to create decent work, strengthen institutions and expand opportunities across the country," Jaradat added.
The workshop comes at a critical moment, as Syria seeks to address deep labour market disruptions, high unemployment and widespread vulnerability. The national public works programme and labour force survey are expected to play a central role in advancing a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery pathway for Syria, combining employment-intensive investments with stronger labour market data and inclusive policy design.
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The ILO continues to support Syria through integrated programmes that promote decent work, skills development and enterprise recovery, including the PROSPECTS partnership funded by the Government of the Netherlands and the "Towards Durable Solutions" programme funded by the European Union. These initiatives aim to expand access to employment opportunities, strengthen labour market systems and support the economic and social reintegration of vulnerable groups, including youth, women, displaced persons and returnees, contributing to stability and long-term recovery.
