The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA) participated yesterday in a seminar via video-conference, organised by the presidents and members of European business councils and chambers of commerce in Qatar titled ,“The measures taken by the State to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on migrant workers.”
The seminar dealt with the latest developments and reforms undertaken by Qatar and the steps it has taken to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on migrant workers. Speaking at the seminar, Mohammed Hassan Al Obaidly, Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs at MADLSA thanked the business councils and chambers of commerce in Qatar for organising the seminar.
Al Obaidly said, “Since the beginning of implementation of the technical cooperation programme with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) during 2018, the state had managed to modernise an advanced legislative system aimed at enhancing decent work and protecting workers rights as part of the priorities of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and in line with the sustainable development goals of United Nations.”
He added, “During the recent period, several legislative reforms were adopted, the most important of which was the cancellation of the exit permit for workers in the private sector subject to the provisions of the Qatari labour law, where they could leave the country temporarily or permanently during the validity of the work contract as well as cancelling the exit permit for domestic workers and workers in ministries and other government departments and public bodies and institutions, as well as the establishment of a fund to support and insure workers that guarantees speedy payment of their financial dues and benefits both private sector workers and domestic workers.”
The Assistant Undersecretary of Labour Affairs noted that the Cabinet agreed on October 16, 2019 to issue a draft law to set controls to facilitate the movement of workers to another employer during the contract period in a manner that preserves the rights of both parties and allows migrant workers to move in the labour market with controls consistent with the international labour standards.
He said that the Cabinet also approved a draft law regulating the minimum wage, and this law is the first of its kind in the Gulf region, where the law obliges employers to provide decent food and accommodation for workers in addition to the basic wage, including domestic workers.
Al Obaidly affirmed that the MADLSA seeks to continue the technical cooperation programme with the International Labour Organisation and coordination and joint work in order to achieve the goals that have been agreed upon, and the importance of this partnership was particularly evident during the COVID-19 crisis, where the Ministry works in close cooperation with the Office of the International Labour Organisation in Doha to support the State’s efforts and adopt good practices to respond to this pandemic.
Al Obaidly explained that this cooperation appears through the preparation of an educational flyer for workers in several languages entitled “your health and work” that includes the basic information for workers was published through newspapers, audio-visual media and the Ministry’s social media.
Additionally guidelines were prepared for organising “remote” work for workers and employers to regulate their rights and duties and how to agree on appropriate working and contact times during the remote work period.
He added that a symposium was also organised for owners of small and medium-sized companies in the country on the COVID-19 economic response plan. The symposium concluded with the formation of a working group from all sides to achieve a comprehensive response to the crisis and sustainable ways to recover through teamwork and ensure effective implementation.
Al Obaidly pointed out that the Ministry launched an SMS campaign on the health and rights of domestic workers during the COVID-19 crisis in 12 languages, and this campaign constitutes an effective way to quickly and widely share information with domestic workers and their employers, as was the case in other sectors.
Given the effects of this crisis, the wage gap in the Qatari private sector does not exceed 10 percent of the total wages paid monthly and comparing that to other countries, this is not an acute deficit yet, and work is now being done to gradually reopen the markets with the establishment of firm protective measures to mitigate financial damages, Al Obaidly explained.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the Ministry said that International research studies have been issued indicating some layoffs and a reduction in the number of workers as a result of this crisis, while part of these layoffs was expected with the approaching organisation of the Fifa World Cup and the completion of vital infrastructure projects, but they coincided with the pandemic, stressing the Ministry is keen that these layoffs are within framework of law or reintegration of workers into the local labour market.