The rules and regulations governing the employment of foreign manpower in the Gulf were discussed at a meeting of under-secretaries of the labour and social affairs ministries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Riyadh.

The meeting proposed a comparative study of the labour laws in the member states to see whether they conformed to international standards, said UAE's Assistant Undersecretary for Labour, Humaid Bin Deemas.

He said the undersecretaries discussed 11 topics included the GCC's labour market, increasing job opportunities for nationals, occupational health and safety issues and the role of small-size entrepreneurs in providing jobs for GCC nationals.

The meeting is a preparatory one for the 24th GCC Labour and Social Affairs Ministers' meeting.