Labour ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states held their 12th meeting in Manama, Bahrain, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The meeting brought together officials responsible for labour and workforce affairs across the six GCC countries. It was chaired by Yusuf bin Abdulhussain Khalaf, Bahrain’s Minister of Labour and Minister of Legal Affairs, with representatives of the GCC General Secretariat also participating in discussions on the agenda.

A central focus of the meeting was strengthening joint Gulf cooperation on labour and workforce matters. Ministers discussed the GCC’s joint labour strategy and several related priorities aimed at supporting the development of labour markets across member states. The discussions formed part of ongoing efforts to coordinate approaches and exchange experience as regional economies and employers’ workforce needs continue to evolve.

Labour-market skills were among the key topics, alongside efforts to strengthen balance and equal opportunities in Gulf labour markets. These priorities highlight the importance of developing professional capabilities and aligning skills with employment needs. Ministers also discussed combating forced labour and human trafficking, issues closely linked to worker protection and the promotion of responsible employment practices across the region.

The meeting also addressed continued work on a GCC guiding framework for green jobs and the preparation of a proposed framework to regulate working environments in the platform economy. These discussions reflect the member states’ interest in examining appropriate approaches to changing forms of employment, including work connected to digital platforms. The official statement described these initiatives as frameworks under preparation; it did not announce that new rules had entered into force as a result of the meeting.

Other agenda items included strengthening occupational health and safety, improving labour-market readiness, and preparing a common GCC guiding framework to regulate and coordinate the recruitment of domestic workers across member states. These issues involve cooperation on employment conditions, recruitment practices and professional protection. The meeting forms part of the GCC’s continuing work to strengthen coordination on labour affairs, while any subsequent implementation measures will depend on further announcements by the relevant official authorities.