The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) decision to close the complaint against Qatar, following the government’s commitments to dismantle the kafala system , signals a new era for workers’ rights in the country.
“Qatar has set a new standard for the Gulf States, and this must be followed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE where millions of migrant workers are trapped in modern slavery,” said Labour Reform, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The complaint was lodged by the ITUC in 2014.
“New commitments made by Qatar to the ITUC and the ILO will normalise industrial relations in the country and have opened the way for international businesses operating in Qatar to sign agreements on workers’ rights and decent work with global union federations,” said Sharan Burrow.
Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) will sign a union agreement with French based multinational construction company VINCI and its joint venture partner QDVC at the end of the month, covering all their workers in Qatar.
BWI general secretary Ambet Yuson said: “This agreement with QDVC and VINCI, which complements and builds on our productive cooperation with the Qatar’s Supreme Committee on Delivery & Legacy, is a major step towards the full respect of workers’ rights in Qatar. We look forward to working with both parties in our ongoing efforts to improve the working and living conditions of migrant construction workers in Qatar. As the text of the agreement indicates, it is ‘founded on the shared belief that all construction workers should be treated with dignity, and live and work in decent and safe conditions.”
“For the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) this means a sea change for transport workers, in aviation, in ports, and in public transport. We look forward to working with companies to build protection for workers, with good, sustainable jobs, recognising international standards and best practice,” said Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation ITF.
A new technical co-operation programme between the ILO and Qatar will support the transition to a modern industrial relations system, with the UN body establishing an office in the country for the first time. Migrant workers in submitting complaints to the national disputes mechanisms will receive support along with an extensive technical and training programme for officials.
“Putting these new guidelines into practice will be done with the support of a signed technical agreement, an ILO office, the ITUC, and agreements between global union federations and companies. Government, unions and companies working together opens a new era for employment rights in Qatar, with workers’ lives and livelihoods being protected,” said Burrow.
Commitments made by Qatar
* Dismantling the kafala system;
* Employment contracts will be lodged with a government authority to prevent contract substitution;
* Employers will no longer be able to stop their employees from leaving the country and the contentious issue of workers’ rights to change employers will be cleared up;
* Identification papers will be issued directly by the State of Qatar;
* A minimum wage will be prescribed as a base rate covering all workers;
* Improvements to the existing Wage Protection System to ensure that wage arrears are systematically settled;
* 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.
