Representatives of the MADLSA, QFC and ILO signed an agreement for the programme, which would involve a series of workshops and events until 2022, at a ceremony in Doha yesterday.
The initiative forms part of the technical co-operation framework between ILO and MADLSA.
Training will be carried out by the ILO’s International Training Centre (ILO-ITC), which has over 50 years’ experience in providing training and services to governments, employers and workers relating to decent work and sustainable development, according to a press statement.
Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, CEO of the QFC Authority, said: “QFC is committed to ensuring high employment standards and supports its members in this regard. We are, therefore, honoured to collaborate with both the ILO and Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs to boost the capacity of staff working in this important field.”
Training carried out under the agreement will build the capacity of key personnel within the QFC, QFC member companies as well as the MADLSA relating to human resources and workplace issues.
Areas of focus will include negotiation skills, occupational safety and health (OSH), labour inspection, workplace relations and staff development.
Participants will also include employment standards officers, HR managers, OSH managers, compliance managers as well as labour inspectors from the MADLSA.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, said: “This programme forms an important part of our collaboration with the ILO in Qatar. It provides an excellent opportunity for labour inspectors to learn international best practices while sharing experiences with counterparts from the private sector.”
The partnership will kick off with a three-day workshop on negotiation skills in Doha from October 1-3.
During the event, participants will learn about and practise approaches to dispute resolution, problem-solving models and various negotiation techniques.
Houtan Homayounpour, head of the ILO’s Project Office for Qatar, highlighted the importance of the initiative. “It is important to build a culture of workplace co-operation that prevents disputes (from) arising, yet if they do arise to also know how to handle them fairly and effectively. This series of training programmes will build skills within institutions, which will ultimately benefit the government, employers and workers alike.”
