‘Qatar adopting best recruitment practices’
Qatar’s legislative, political and economic policies ensure a just and rewarding working environment: Minister
QATAR has made huge efforts to establish best practices in the recruitment process through a package of legislative reforms, Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs HE Yousef bin Mohammed al Othman Fakhroo has said.
In a speech at the Fair Recruitment Forum, Othman said Qatar is working on developing procedures that will entrench the principles of fair recruitment and combat all means of exploitation and deception, including methods that may lead to forced labour or human trafficking.
He said a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with labour-exporting countries to achieve the highest standards of employment and fair recruitment.
The reforms adopted by Qatar in protecting the rights of expatriate workers have compelled recruitment agencies against imposing prohibitive recruitment fees on workers both in Qatar and in the labour-exporting countries, he said.
“We look forward to launching more workshops to raise awareness about the need to prevent workers being forced to pay recruitment fees and to develop policies and tools, which will help in addressing this problem. The workshops will be providing the necessary support through the establishment of a voluntary technical working group comprising local stakeholders in the coming months. The group will meet to discuss the progress made and will also discuss possible ways of cooperation in the application of labour laws in Qatar,” he said.
QATAR continues to reform its labour laws to entrench the principles of fairness and combat all means of exploitation and deception in worker recruitments, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs HE Yousef bin Mohammed al Othman Fakhroo has said.
He said the country would seek to eliminate anything that may lead to forced labour or human trafficking within its jurisdiction. He was addressing a ‘Fair Recruitment Forum’ organised by the ministry on Monday.
Qatar has already introduced a package of legislative reforms in this regard, he said.
The forum was conducted in association with the Qatar Chamber, the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) to study the efforts exerted to ensure fairness in worker recruitments and raise awareness of the Qatari Labour Law, which has made levying recruitment fees from workers illegal.
“The application of this legal principle may not be easy, but we want to become a role model,” Othman said.
The minister also highlighted Qatar’s agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with several labour-exporting countries to ensure fairness and
transparency in labour recruitments.
“We look forward to launching more workshops to raise awareness about the need to prevent workers from having to pay for their recruitment. We are also keen to cooperate with other countries in developing policies and tools, which will help address this problem,” he said.
The minister said the forum has benefited from the 2022 FIFA World Cup organising body’s initiative to reimburse workers who had paid recruitment fees prior to moving to Qatar.
The efforts of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) have led to World Cup contractors agreeing to reimburse more than QR52.5 million ($14.4m) to thousands of workers.
The minister said the forum would go a long way in furthering the progress made by Qatar’s legislative, political and economic policies in ensuring a just and rewarding working environment in Qatar, especially for blue-collar workers.
Addressing the forum, Qatar Chamber’s First Vice-Chairman Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Twar said the country’s keenness to safeguard the rights of workers reflects the importance of their role and their participation in realising the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Qatari private sector companies and institutions are committed to adhering to the labour laws and regulations on utilising expatriate labour. We in Qatar are satisfied with the private sector’s response to the national labour reforms. We have seen the full cooperation of local companies in implementing this legislation on the ground,” he added.
William Grant, Chargé d’affaires of the United States in Qatar, praised the work and efforts exerted by Qatar in supporting the principles of human rights. He congratulated the country’s leadership for its achievements in this regard and the role played by them in elevating Qatar as a model for example in the field of human rights protection.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation between the United States and Qatar in protecting workers’ rights, calling on employers and the private sector to cooperate in order to prevent the workers from paying any recruitment fees.
Sharan Burrow, secretary-general of the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ICFTU), said in a televised speech that Qatar had made remarkable decisions to preserve the rights of workers.
It has abolished the exit permits, established the system of contracts and the dispute settlement system, and issued decisions to establish joint labour committees, set a minimum wage that guarantees workers a decent life, and there is also a fund to support workers, she said.
In general, she added, Qatar has made remarkable achievements in the area of wage protection.
We look forward to launching more workshops to raise awareness about the need to prevent workers from having to pay for their recruitment. We are also keen to cooperate with other countries in developing policies and tools, which will help address this problem HE Yousef bin Mohammed al Othman Fakhroo