Labor Conference's Participants Praise Qatar's Achievements in Promoting Welfare of Workers

Speakers at the 4th edition of the annual Labor Welfare Conference reaffirmed that Qatar has made remarkable achievements in promoting the welfare and rights of expatriate workers, while praising workers' great role in the construction and development in Qatar.
The participants of the conference, organized by Dar Al Sharq on International Workers' Day, said the State has spared no effort in creating a safe and secure environment for expatriate workers, providing them with needs and requirements for decent living and guaranteeing their rights, in accordance with laws and legislation and in compliance with the relevant international conventions.
Qatar Chamber Vice Chairman Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Towar Al Kuwari said that Qatari private sector is committed to labor laws and legislations enacted by the State, pointing out that Qatari companies have shown their full cooperation in keeping up with these legislations.
He added that Qatar Chamber had organized a number of seminars and workshops to raise awareness about labor laws and legislations and introduce businessmen and the representatives of companies to the basic principles of human rights and workers.
The Qatar Chamber Vice Chairman also stressed the Chamber's keenness on encouraging employers and companies to provide a favorable environment for workers both in terms of work environment and conditions or in terms of modern labor accommodations, as well as to train them and increase awareness of the requirements of occupational safety and health to achieve more efficiency and productivity.
He praised the State's efforts in the field of labor welfare and in guaranteeing their rights, adding that the Law No. 21 of 2015 regulating the entry and exit of expatriates and their residence, which came into effect on December 13, 2016, proved Qatar's keenness on the welfare and protection of workers and providing them with a favorable environment.
Al Kuwari stressed that the State of Qatar, under the guidance of the wise leadership, focused on the welfare of expatriate workers by providing them with a safe and ideal working environment in compliance with international conventions and agreements, and issuing laws and regulations that safeguard the rights of workers and guarantee them a decent living.
He pointed out that the State of Qatar receives large numbers of expatriate workers working in various sectors and they participate in achieving sustainable development, noting that Qatar occupy a leading position in terms of attention given to the rights of workers and providing them with all the amenities for decent living.
For his part, Director General of the Arab Labor Organization Fayez Al Mutairi stressed that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to workers' rights, saying that the increasing number of workers coming to Qatar is a demonstration of the existence of a favorable working environment that respects these rights.
He added what we see during site visits is an evidence of this welfare, attention and protection of workers' rights, praised the 'Better Connections' program launched by the Ministry of Transport and Communications to achieve digital inclusion in all workers in Qatar. 
Qatar Rail's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Eng Abdulla Abdulaziz Al Subaie said the company has put the workforce at the top of its list of priorities and has adopted clear policies towards that out of its absolute belief in the close relationship between workers' conditions and the success of the project.
He stressed that the success of the company is not limited to completion of the project and completion within the specified time frame only, but it is directly linked to maintaining the highest levels of occupational safety and providing a favorable working environment for the staff working with us in this project.
Al Subaie noted that the company has adopted the Mandatory Standards of Migrant Workers' Welfare provided by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development related to the provision of suitable housing facilities for workers and has been included in all design and construction contracts.
He added that all partners are committed to these standards as well as to providing facilities in the workplace that ensure hygiene, privacy and basic medical care to treat injuries that may occur during work, stressing that the company is committed to take strict action against any violation of these conditions.
Qatar Rail's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer pointed out that the company provided surveillance systems and security services at all work sites to enhance the sense of security of workers and to prevent the occurrence of security problems in the sites, stressing that the company is keen on cooperating closely with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and benefiting from its initiatives.
For his part, Director of Legal Affairs of the Qatar National Human Rights Committee Jaber Al Huwail praised the achievements made so far in ensuring the rights of workers despite certain challenges, pointing in this regard to the law of entry and exit of expatriates, protection of wages, and other achievements.
Deputy Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior Saad Salem Al Dosari highlighted the role of the department in protecting the workers' rights guaranteed by the constitution and the law, stressing that a number of achievements in this regard were made.
Mohamed Ali Al Meer, Director of the Labor Inspection Department at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, outlined the efforts made to inspect the workplaces to ensure that all requirements are met and laws are implemented.

Source: QNA