The unemployment rate dropped to 11.98 percent in the second half of 2017 from 12.77% in the first quarter of 2016, said the manpower minister on Saturday.

"This shows that we are on the right track," Mohamed Saafan told a news conference on his ministry's efforts over the recent period.

The targeted rate on the long term is 6.7 percent by 2021, said the minister.

He reviewed among other files draft laws on labor including one to be passed by the parliament on elections of trade unions.

Source : Mena