Qatar NHRC welcomes new changes to workers rights

Doha, Qatar – 25/10/2017

Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) welcomes the wide-ranging reforms announced by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social and various organizations, which came following discussions with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

NHRC welcome the Qatari government commitment to normalise industrial protections for migrant workers including the following; employment contracts which will be lodged with a government authority to prevent contract substitution.

The changes where employers will no longer be able to stop their employees from leaving the country and a minimum wage will be prescribed as a base rate covering all workers, ending the race-based system of wages; are true landmark to for the human rights of workers.

The new changes announced by the Government will also include:

• Identification papers will be issued directly by the State of Qatar, and workers will no longer rely on their employer to provide their ID card without which workers can be denied medical treatment.

• Workers’ committees will be established in each workplace, with workers electing their own representatives.

• A special disputes resolution committee with a timeframe for dealing with grievances will be a centre piece for ensuring rapid remedy of complaints.

The new changes of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social are new pillars that support the human rights