Former Minister Ana Mendes Godinho appointed as head of OECD

A former Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security Ana Mendes Godinho will take over the Directorate of Employment, Work and Social Affairs of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Lusa said.

The nomination resulted from an international competition to which more than 130 candidates from almost 30 countries competed.

The former governor takes office on January 1, at the headquarters of the organization in Paris.

It is a direction with intervention in the definition and monitoring of public policies on employment, social protection, qualifications, migration and health.

“It is a new, challenging mission, in an international context marked by profound changes, which require new answers, especially in view of the impact of artificial intelligence on the world of work,” said Ana Mendes Godinho.

In the evaluation of the jury, the course of dialogue with the social partners, including trade unions and employers' organisations, and the capacity to respond during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the information sent to Lusa.

The direction he will lead produces studies, international indicators and recommendations that support governments in defining employment and social protection policies.

This work is also a reference for institutions such as the European Commission and the G20 and G7 international agendas.

It is also responsible for publications such as “OECD Employment Outlook”, considered one of the main international reports on labour market developments, wages, quality of employment and the challenges posed to labour policies.

Artificial intelligence and the effects on professions, the need to adapt the qualifications of workers, migrations and the sustainability of social and health protection systems will be among the major themes that Ana Mendes Godinho will find in the new role.

Graduated in Law from the University of Lisbon, where she also conducted post-graduation studies in Legal Sciences and in Labor and Social Security Law, Ana Mendes Godinho was Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security between 2019 and 2024, in the governments of António Costa, during which time she was responsible for the social and labor response to the pandemic, the implementation of measures of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and reforms such as the Dignified Work Agenda and the Happy Creche program.

In 2021, during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, he chaired the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Council (EPSCO), participating in the conduct of the European social agenda.

Before taking over the portfolio of Labor, he was Secretary of State for Tourism, from 2015 to 2019. She also served in the Working Conditions Authority, where she was an inspector and manager.

After leaving the government, she was a Member of the Assembly of the Republic between 2024 and 2025.

He currently serves as Director of Tourism Strategy at the NOVA University of Lisbon.