Field tours educate workers on virus

As many as 160,000 workers have been covered through 4,400 field tours conducted by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA) since April 5 to enhance the awareness of workers and employers on the precautionary and preventive measures against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), a senior official told Qatar TV yesterday.

“The importance of proper personal hygiene practices, conveying information about the apps for online money transfer, and the need to pay and salaries on time are among the topics covered under the initiative,” explained Fahd Zafir al-Dossari, director of the Labour Inspection Department at the MADLSA.

He stressed that the sectors not affected by the Covid-19 outbreak should continue to pay salaries of workers on time.

However, those affected should reach a consensus with their employees in matters such as reducing salaries, unpaid leave or annual leave, or even termination of services in accordance with the law, or providing food and accommodation free to them until they are repatriated to their home countries.

For those who have to take unpaid leave or reduced salaries options, adequate food and accommodation should be secured all through or the money equivalent provided.

For the infected workers or those who are in health quarantine, the employer should continue to pay their salaries.

Other measures taken by the MADLSA include instructing companies to reduce the density of workers at work places and accommodation as well, reducing by 50% the capacity of buses used to transport them to the work sites and back, and the presence of health and safety officers to provide the necessary services.

The MADLSA has also co-operated with Qatar Central Bank to ease for both employees and employers the transfer of money online and encourage them to use the various online apps available, al-Dossari added.