QU College of Law gets ‘worker welfare award’
The College of Law (LAWC) at Qatar University (QU) was selected for the best worker welfare personality award for 2020, at a ceremony held under the auspices of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), titled ‘Workers’ welfare is a moral duty and legal obligation’.
The selection was made by Workers’ Welfare Awards Committee head Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari, first vice-chairman of Qatar Chamber.
The committee includes representatives from the National Human Rights Committee, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the Community Police, the Labour Inspection Department at the MADLSA, the Public Relations Department at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and a number of professors from QU.
The committee presented honorary awards for the best company in worker welfare during the Covid-19 pandemic, best company in worker accommodation, best company in occupational safety and health, best worker of the year 2020, and best personality in worker welfare for the year 2020.
Dr Khaled bin Saleh al-Shammari, assistant dean for academic affairs, received the award.
The committee commended the efforts made by the legal clinic at LAWC in providing legal assistance to vulnerable groups, especially migrant workers, in various labour cases, which include breaching the terms and conditions stipulated in work contracts, especially those related to wages and end-of-service benefits, and other obligations imposed on the employer.
The legal clinic is also involved with criminal and civil cases, including claims for refund of sums that were paid before the emergence of the
Covid-19 pandemic, issues related to the payment of bank loans, sales and lease contracts and commercial partnership, as well as personal status issues, especially those related to marriage and alimony, child support and domestic violence.
The committee commended the research project carried out by students of the College of Law in the fall 2020 semester, which dealt with the legal effects of the pandemic on obligations in employment contracts, in partnership with 30 legal clinics in universities from 20 countries: Qatar, Spain, India, the US, South Africa, Croatia, Nigeria, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Malawi, Oman, Kuwait, Tunisia, Canada, Romania and Turkey.
The committee reviewed the final report, which included the results of the research project and the recommendations.
The committee also referred to the role of the College of Law in enriching research related to labour and workers’ issues, and raising awareness of their rights under the Qatari legislative system.