ILO praises Qatar’s steps to protect workers’ rights

The International LabourOrganisation (ILO) board of directors has praised the important legislative achievements and reforms adopted by Qatar in its ongoing efforts to promote and protect the rights of expatriate workers, Qatar News Agency QNA reports.

Members of the governing body of the ILO, in particular the governments of the United States, the European Union, Canada and the Employers’ and Workers’ Groups commended the reforms undertaken by Qatar, such as the abolition of exit visas, the establishment of a Workers’ Support Fund and the establishment of joint labour committees and the study of a minimum wage.

The ILO board members also welcomed the constructive co-operation and partnerships undertaken by the government of Qatar to support efforts to implement reforms with a number of governments, including the US, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the Netherlands, as well as social partners represented by the Employers’ Organisation, the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) .

During the session, the director of the International Labour Office in Doha gave a briefing on the important steps and measures taken by Qatar in a short period of time and its co-operation with the ILO through the implementation of a number of programmes and activities related to the development of the Wages Protection System (WPS), as well as setting up plans and training for inspectors, combating trafficking in human beings, procedures of the recruitment and contracting system and strengthening complaint mechanisms.
For his part, Mohamed Hassan al-Obaidly, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, said during the meeting that Qatar is willing to ensure a productive working environment for all parties of the work system in compliance with international labour standards and ratified conventions, and to ensure close co-operation with all partners to provide a safe working environment and protecting the rights and interests of all production parties.