The report is a new marker of progress since the introduction of a modern system of industrial relations in Qatar, said ITUC.
“Social dialogue between workers, government and employers is the model that Qatar has followed to establish its labour law reforms. This gives workers the foundation to resolve complaints and sets the standard for industrial relations across the Gulf region. Qatar’s labour laws have passed the scrutiny test by international unions,” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of ITUC.
“One year ahead of the World Cup in Qatar employers are now being put to the test to follow the laws that protect workers’ rights in Qatar. Abuses of workers’ rights can now be resolved through dialogue with the Ministry of Labour or through the Labour Courts. There is nowhere for unscrupulous employers to hide,” she said.
Legislation to protect workers from heat stress in May 2021 which extended the prohibited working hours and the and the world’s largest study into heat stress conducted in 2019 has given a legislative and evidence base to health and safety provisions, ITUC said.
The ILO’s analysis of work-related injuries in Qatar and the level of transparency offered by the Government is model by which other countries can be judged, ITUC added.
“No worker expects to go to work and not come home. The recognition of occupational health and safety rights for workers is a global scandal.
“In Qatar progress is being made, from the transparency of data which identifies risks for workers and practical recommendations from training of workers on risks to enforcement of penalties for non-compliance by employers.
“The culture being established in Qatar to openly report accidents underpins strong safety measures in the workplace,” said Burrow.
