The Shura Council participated in the first edition (constitutive session) of the Economic Parliamentary Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean Region and Gulf, initiated by the Council of Advisors of Morocco and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM). During the forum, Shura Council Member and Member of the PAM's Committee of Economists Abdullah bin Nasser al-Subaie, reviewed in his speech Qatar's efforts over the past years in reforming the legal and legislative system to achieve further human rights and improve working and living conditions for citizens and residents.
He highlighted the adoption of the Minimum Wage Law, which is the first law in the region to stipulate a minimum wage for workers and their privileges, as well as improvements and reforms in the sponsorship and health insurance system, and facilitating the ability to change jobs for expatriate workers, which benefited hundreds of thousands of expatriate workers.
He explained that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) hailed the Qatari measures, affirming that they are achievements and gains for the benefit of workers and expatriates, stressing Qatar's communication, co-operation and co-ordination with the ILO and ITUC, in accordance with the laws of the state and the agreements and treaties ratified by the government of the State of Qatar.
Speaking about youth, al-Subaie stressed the State's measures taken under directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to care for rehabilitate youth, empower women to contribute to the development of the country and provide education and healthcare according to the highest standards.
Qatar pursued a rational policy in its foreign relations, based on supporting international peace and security, co-operation with all countries, non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, and working to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue and methods, he added. The Shura Council member also highlighted in his speech, the United Nations' praise for Qatar's initiatives to promote international peace and security, mediation efforts to resolve disputes by peaceful means, as well as providing assistance to brotherly and friendly countries in need. In this context, Qatar will host next March the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in the World, he added.
During the two-day forum sessions, the participants discussed several topics, including financial and commercial integration of the Euro-Mediterranean economic zone and the Gulf, the role of the private sector in achieving integration, threats to energy security, and ensuring affordable supplies, within the framework of environmental transformation and sustainable development goals in the face of climate change.
The forum also touched on the role of governments and the private sector, especially trade and investment, in achieving food security for the GCC countries and the Euro-Mediterranean region, and regional and international solutions aimed at empowering women and youth, overcoming the digital divide by facilitating logistics services, artificial intelligence, trade and investment, and the best and most sustainable practices in order to revive the tourism sector.
Related Story