A guidance tool to promote fair recruitment and employment standards in the hospitality sector in Qatar was launched by HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Yousuf bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro at a webinar on Thursday.
'Promoting Fair Recruitment and Employment: Guidance Tool for Hotels in Qatar, was developed through collaboration between the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), Qatar Chamber, International Labour Organisation Project Office for the State of Qatar (ILO-Qatar), Institute for Human Rights and Business, and International Tourism Partnership.
The guidance tool has been published by MADLSA. “This tool aims to support hotel companies in Qatar to respond to labour rights challenges by implementing appropriate policies and exercising thorough and ongoing human and labour rights due diligence,” according to the introduction.
HE al-Fakhro stated that recent labour reforms are within the framework of achieving Qatar National Vision 2030 and the ministry is committed to implementing them within the standards of decent work and the framework of the sustainable growth system for all sectors in the country.
The hospitality sector has shown effective and serious co-operation with the ministry in this regard. Since early 2019, MADLSA has formed a Working Group for Sustainable Growth and Decent Work in the hospitality sector with hotel representatives to strengthen standards for fair recruitment in the sector.
Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani suggested that the hospitality sector, which is vital to the economy as well as a very important part of the Qatari culture, must show its leadership in pushing for labour reforms in Qatar.
He affirmed Qatar Chamber's support for hotels to enhance their commitment to the standards of fair employment, which would also benefit all companies in other sectors.
The participants of the webinar, also discussed issues related to employment contracts, passports, identity papers, working conditions, workers housing, equality and non-discrimination, changing employer and returning to the country of origin, and grievance mechanisms.
The Working Group for Sustainable Growth and Decent Work in the hospitality sector is also subject to review by the Strategic Dialogue Group on Hospitality in Qatar, chaired by MADLSA and including various entities such as Qatar Chamber, Qatar National Tourism Council, Katara Hospitality, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee, ILO-Qatar, the International Trade Union Confederation, and the International Organisation of Employers.
While this tool provides specific guidance to hotels in Qatar, many of the lessons are transferable to the hospitality sector globally and further versions could be developed for other contexts. Though based on ongoing discussions and lessons learned from the Working Group sessions, the guidance tool does provide a concise set of key resources for hotels, with practical steps to promote decent work and improve recruitment practices including engagement with placement agencies and service providers.
The guidance tool covers three topics. They are ‘defining company priorities and expectations’, ‘due diligence of service providers, placement agencies and recruitment practices’, and ‘improving workplace relations and establishing effective grievance mechanisms’.
Designed primarily for hotel human resources managers, general managers and other relevant actors within the industry, the guidance tool provides sector-specific guidance that managers and departments can adapt as appropriate.
Hotel managers, brand/group managers and hotel owners are urged to be actively involved in the development and oversight of company policies and procedures in order to follow up on the steps recommended in this tool in a sustainable manner.
“Senior management, especially at the brand level, can contribute positively to the organisational culture and facilitate greater industry-level engagement on fair recruitment and decent work,” according to the tool.
