Ministry keen to apply best int’l standards to ensure workers’ security & safety
THE Ministry of Labour has renewed its keenness to apply the best international standards to ensure the security and safety of expatriate workers, and its commitment to implement legislative updates the labour sector has witnessed on a continuous and sustainable basis, beyond the organisation of the FIFA Qatar 2022 Championship. The ministry noted that the development of legislations has become an strategic option for Qatar, both on the short and long term basis.
In a statement on the occasion of the celebration marking the International Workers’ Day, which falls on the first of May each year, the ministry confirmed that it will do its utmost to ensure the health and safety of workers by strengthening precautionary measures and health requirements at work sites and workers’ housing, in line with international standards related to occupational safety and health. The ministry noted that one of the most prominent updates and developments in the work environment during the past ten years was the update and development of many legislations that contributed to improving and upgrading the work environment, in order to keep pace with the best international standards regarding the protection of workers’ rights.
The ministry explained that its distinguished partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and many international organizations contributed directly to supporting and promoting development and modernization in the work environment in Qatar, which puts it in front of the responsibility of opening new horizons for joint cooperation with international organizations during the coming period, in the interest of workers and employers.
The ministry noted that its celebration of this occasion aims to shed light on the achievements made by workers, and their contribution to the comprehensive development renaissance in the country, noting that the celebration of International Workers’ Day comes this year, with the upcoming organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, especially since the preparations for it constitute a real opportunity to review and develop laws and procedures regulating the labour market and workers’ rights, based on the teachings of the true Islamic religion and the provisions of the Qatari constitution.
THE ministry said this is in recognition of the importance of updating legislations and effectively improving the work environment in the country because of its positive impact on various levels of production in all sectors.
The ministry pointed out that the celebration of the International Workers’ Day coincides with the imminent organisation of the FIFA Qatar 2022 tournament, and the actual implementation of many regionally pioneering legislations, which made the work environment more attractive to workers, especially the regulatory legislations for the labor market, including the abolition of the exit permit, and the abolition of the No Objection Certificate from the previous employer, raising the non-discriminatory minimum wage, establishing visa centers in labour-sending countries to expedite the recruitment process and ensure that workers are not subjected to abuse in their countries of origin, establishing a support fund, and securing workers to protect and guarantee their financial rights.
The pioneering legislations that has been implemented also included promoting a safe and healthy work environment, taking measures to protect workers from hazards of heat stress, extending the period during which workers may not be employed under sunlight, establishing labor dispute settlement committees, inaugurating the wage protection system, and tightening oversight to ensure commitment to the approved standards of occupational health and safety in workplaces and housing, the issuance of a law to regulate and protect the rights of domestic workers, and a new draft law that provides for mandatory health insurance for all residents and visitors, and the development of a labor complaints mechanism (a complaints hotline has been established in 11 languages in all branches of the Department of Labor Relations in the Ministry).
The ministry expressed its deep gratitude and appreciation to the workers who, through their continuous efforts, became able to achieve comprehensive development, stressing its commitment to making more unremitting efforts aimed at promoting and protecting workers’ rights and providing a safe and healthy work environment.