H.E. Dr. Mukhtar Al-Yafaei, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, held a virtual meeting today with H.E. Carlo Baldocci, the non-resident Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Yemen, to discuss avenues for cooperation in the areas of social protection, labour market regulation, vocational education and training, capacity building, and digital transformation.

The meeting explored opportunities to establish an institutional partnership between the Ministry and relevant Italian institutions, drawing on Italy’s expertise in developing social programmes and policies and supporting recovery and development efforts that contribute to strengthening stability and improving public services for Yemeni citizens.

Minister Al-Yafaei also briefed the Ambassador on the latest developments in the Red Sea, highlighting the serious escalation caused by the Houthi terrorist militia and the repercussions of its attacks on international maritime security, global trade, and the worsening humanitarian and living conditions of the Yemeni people. He called on the international community to adopt a unified and resolute stance to put an end to these actions and hold the militia accountable for its threats to regional and international peace and security.

The Minister outlined the Ministry’s vision and strategic priorities, which focus on strengthening the social protection system, assessing the needs of local and regional labour markets, aligning vocational training and qualification programmes with available employment opportunities, and enhancing the capacities of Ministry staff and its governorate offices through comprehensive workforce development initiatives aimed at improving institutional performance. He also reviewed the Ministry’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, designed to streamline administrative procedures, modernize services related to the labour market and civil society organizations, and enhance transparency and the efficiency of service delivery.

Minister Al-Yafaei further highlighted the ongoing preparations for the expanded consultative meeting to be held in the interim capital, Aden. The meeting aims to unify strategic visions, reduce the overlap and duplication of programmes, define priorities and responsibilities in line with the Government’s policy directions, and transition engagement with donors and international and local organizations from fragmented interventions to a structured institutional partnership based on the formulation and implementation of policies and strategic plans. He emphasized the importance of Italy playing a constructive and active role by contributing its expertise in support of these efforts.

For his part, Ambassador Baldocci underscored the importance of maintaining close communication and coordination between the two sides and exploring opportunities for cooperation in the fields of social protection, vocational training, institutional capacity building, workforce development, and benefiting from the expertise of specialized Italian institutions in the design and advancement of social programmes and policies.

Ambassador Baldocci expressed his appreciation for the Ministry’s vision and priorities and affirmed Italy’s readiness to examine the proposed areas of cooperation and translate them into practical programmes that contribute to capacity building, service development, and the strengthening of social protection systems and employment opportunities.