The recent Duhail gas tank blast which killed 11 individuals and injured 35, has brought to public attention the disturbing fact that thousands of low-income expatriates employed by numerous establishments across Qatar do not have any sort of medical insurance coverage.
It was found that seven restaurant workers who died in the tragedy had no insurance coverage at all though they had been with their employers for periods ranging between 11 and 18 months.
Gulf Times reported the other day that workers employed by most small and medium eateries, groceries, mid-level supermarkets as well as various automobile workshops, among others, do not enjoy insurance protection.
Qatar Labour Law states that it is a sponsor’s responsibility as well as his legal obligation to give his workers leave with full salary, medical treatment, transport and other compensation for a period of six months if he sustains any serious injuries while at work or in the course of work.
If a worker is unable to resume even after six months, he needs to be given 50% of his basic salary until he returns for work, according to the labour law. If a worker is insured by his employer, the insurer should provide the costs incurred for medical treatment in the event of an injury or the complete insurance amount should be provided by the insurer in the worse event of his death, while at work or in the course of work.
If a worker is not insured by the employer, he should provide all medical costs incurred or a complete compensation of QR200,000 to the kith and kin of the worker in the event of his death from his own sources, as stipulated by Qatar Labour Law No 14/2004.
Conservative estimates put the number of small and medium cafeterias and restaurants between 2,000 and 2,500. While the exact number of workers employed in such eateries - and who have no insurance coverage - is not available, it is believed that the figure can vary between 15,000 and 25,000. There are a significant number of uninsured workers employed in automobile workshops and groceries/supermarkets as well.
According to legal and insurance professionals, an employer has to deposit less than .275% of its total combined salary of the year as the one-year premium for providing insurance coverage for their staff. While many operators of medium and small establishments have seen significant growth over the years, it is understood that only a few of them have provided insurance coverage to their employees, leaving the families of such workers in distress after an untoward incident while at work.
The Duhail tragedy should serve as an eye opener to all concerned. Employers have to realise it is their responsibility to insure their workers and a nominal amount spent in this connection would go a long way in avoiding unnecessary financial expenditure in the long run.
Though it may not be feasible for Qatari sponsors to have a full idea of what is going on in all the business establishments under their commercial registration, they should seize this opportunity and ensure that all the workers are insured. Such a step is essential to maintain the image of the country too.
