A team of 10 persons (including 5 women) from eight organizations in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa was invited to Japan from December 6 to 19, 2009.

The participants approached the program with a positive attitude. At the labour-related lectures and places visited they actively engaged in discussions while often referring to the labour situation in their own countries. When there was not enough time for questions and answers at places visited, they enthusiastically asked questions during the break or even after the meeting had finished. Furthermore, the participants showed much interest in such issues as the spring labour offensive in Japan, the Hello Work employment offices, and gender equality and eagerly learned about the efforts of the Japanese labour movement.

Perhaps because half of the team members were women, at the places visited the participants expressed special interest in activities related to women workers, introduced efforts relating to gender equality and so on in their own countries, and discussed differences between the legislative systems of Japan and their own countries. On one occasion it was pointed out that Japan was being tardy in establishing labour legislation to address the problem of its low birthrate. Regarding the labour situation, the participants showed much interest in such issues as the relationship between Rengo and politics following the takeover of government by the Democratic Party of Japan and efforts relating to nonregular workers.

The Middle East and North Africa belong to the Arabic-speaking region, and the countries there share many common issues relating to their social systems and labour unions. Through the program, the participants were able to deepen their exchange. For example, the team as a whole displayed a strong sense of solidarity toward the two participants from Palestine, where the situation is unstable.