Morocco and Germany have agreed on a pilot project expected to create 9,500 jobs in optic fiber engineering, which is becoming very important in today’s modern telecommunication.
The project was discussed during a meeting held Thursday in Geneva between Moroccan minister of Employment and Skills Younes Sekkouri and German Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil on the sidelines of the 111th International Labor Conference.
Fiber optic engineering is the process of designing, installing, and maintaining the fiber optic cables that support phone and internet communication. Fiber optic cables transmit information much faster than traditional options. This rapid change increases demand for engineers who can design, install, and maintain fiber optic systems.
The Moroccan and German ministers stressed the need for the two countries to conclude a new generation “win-win” agreements benefiting from international mobility opportunities. They also discussed cooperation prospects in training, employment, and economic inclusion.
To address shortage of skilled labor and overcome the obstacle of its aging population, Germany has relaxed its immigration laws in a bid to attract skilled workers to its jobs market.
Germany has the biggest economy in Europe but experts say it needs an extra 400,000 immigrant workers a year. The country suffers from an ageing workforce and a lack of workers in construction, health and IT.
Labor Minister Hubertus Heil said seven million skilled workers would be needed by 2035.
This comes on the eve of Germany’s involvement in a major reform of the legislative framework related to immigration, the status of workers and the access of foreigners to jobs in the country, while many reports indicate Germany’s need for a workforce of about 850,000 people in the coming years.
Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri is leading a large Moroccan delegation participating in the work of the 111th session of the International Labor Conference (5-16 June). The delegation includes representatives of the government sector, employers, and most representative trade union bodies.
Delegates of Governments, employers and workers from the ILO’s 187 Member States are taking part in the 111th session of the International Labor Conference which is addressing a wide range of issues, including: a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, and protection of workers.
A World Labor Summit was held Wednesday and Thursday in Geneva, as part of the 111th session of the International Labor Conference.
This high-level conclave, under the theme “Social Justice for All”, examined the need to strengthen collaboration in favor of social justice and discussed the proposal to create a Global Coalition for Social Justice, a multilateral initiative that was welcomed by the Governing Body of the International Labor Office of the ILO at its 347th session in March 2023.
