Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) yesterday began the first round of inspection for construction sites and accommodation.
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November last year which took effect last month, the Qatar News Agency reported.
The MoU provides for the inspections, training and a review of the SC’s current occupational health and safety and workers welfare standards including grievance mechanisms.
Deputy president of IGBAU Germany and Chair of the BWI Sports Campaign Group Dietmar Schaefers said “the BWI and the SC have been engaged in an on-going dialogue for the past three years; and throughout this process we have been able to build trust and confidence in each other resulting in the MoU.”
He added that “the rapid progress on the implementation of the MoU will provide real and practical value to construction workers on the ground in Qatar. The signing of the MoU, which the SC did on its own accord, is reflective of the organisation’s commitment to ensure occupational health and safety and welfare of all workers.
“In this regard, we highly respect the SC and its commitment towards the workers welfare, and this MoU will be an avenue to work together to achieve these goals.”
The agreement is based on a shared commitment to ensure occupational health and safety standards for construction workers involved in the 2022 World Cup venues.
A critical component of the MoU is OHS inspections of both stadium project sites and living facilities.
Continuous good faith, co-operation and building of trust since the signing of the agreement has made it possible for the first joint inspections on construction sites to take place this week.
Such inspections will be in full conformity with Qatari laws and the MoU.
Qatar SC
