Galway will host the first key European Union conference of Ireland's upcoming presidency of the EU.
Employment and social affairs ministers from the 15 EU member states and 10 accession countries will get together in the city on January 16th.
The session will mark Ireland's first formal opportunity to indicate priorities for the employment and social policy agenda for the period of Irish presidency.
Delegate ministers are due to review strategies within the EU to stimulate employment and reduce low-pay poverty traps by adjusting the balance between taxation and social welfare benefits.
The Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr Frank Fahey, is due to host the conference with his Minister for Social and Family Affairs colleague, Ms Mary Coughlan. He said today the talks would be based on "a provocative document" drafted by the Irish presidency on the basis of a recent European Commission report on the issue.
The meeting will also examine a report from an employment taskforce headed by former Dutch Prime Minister Mr Wim Kok.
Mr Fahey said the Government had identified a number of priority issues and achievable goals on the broad employment front that tied into key recommendations of the Kok report.
He added: "They are making work pay, change and adaptability in the workplace and investment in human capital.
"Our concentration will be on trying to move forward those key areas and incorporate them as much as possible into the European employment strategy."