NHRC deputy chairperson meets Sri Lankan official

HE the Deputy Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari, met with the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Judge Rohini Marasinghe, on the sidelines of the NHRC delegation's visit to Colombo as part of a tour to countries which have a large number of workers in Qatar.
The two sides discussed the possibility of renewing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides, discussing avenues to strengthen co-operation and sharing expertise with respect to human rights.
They also discussed opportunities and challenges facing Sri Lankan workers.
Al-Kuwari said that Qatar had taken several measures pertaining to the protection of workers' rights, mainly the right of workers to change their employers under Law No 18 of 2020, minimum wage and the right to adequate housing and living conditions set forth in Law No 17 of 2020.
He pointed out that the law ensures the workers' right to transfer to other employers with better conditions. However, in case of contract termination without adherence to a notice period, employers shall pay compensation to workers, as the law specified the compensation value in a way that respects workers' rights.
The NHRC deputy chairperson handed over 100 copies of workers' rights pocket booklet in the Sinhalese language to the chairperson of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission. The booklet includes the most important guidelines of workers' rights and duties in accordance with the Qatari labour law.
HE Dr al-Kuwari also discussed with officials of Qatar Visa Centre in Colombo methods of taking measures to protect expatriate workers in Qatar and ensuring their arrival in Qatar through the official procedures recognised under Qatari and Sri Lankan laws, as well as raising workers' awareness on those procedures.
He called for stepping up workers' awareness programmes and efforts in the country of origin to introduce the rights, duties and procedures of receiving visas prior to their arrival in Qatar.
He pointed out that NHRC strives to take proactive measures to prevent problems that might face workers nominated to work in Qatar.