Assistant Undersecretary for Social Affairs, Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Ghanem Mubarak al-Kuwari, said on Monday that decree law No. 21 of 2020 regarding private associations and institutions aims to give these entities more flexibility to achieve their goals and provide the appropriate environment for their work.
In a press conference held yesterday, al-Kuwari said that the ministry will communicate with the heads of private organisations to present the most important amendments included in decree law No. 21 in more detail. It will also answer queries. He expressed gratitude to members of the boards of directors and general assemblies in all private associations and institutions for their important role in achieving partnership and co-operation between state institutions, associations and private institutions to achieve the goals of national development, and in appreciation of the role they play in providing many social, scientific, cultural and professional services, stressing that the ministry is working continuously to support this partnership and provide a helping hand and support to these community institutions.
This is because, he said, these organisations represent a real support in the implementation of the ministry's tasks and because of the real value it embodies in social capital, as indicated by Qatar National Vision 2030. Al-Kuwari stated that the decree law No. 21 of 2020 aims to give private associations and institutions more flexibility to achieve their goals that are compatible with their objectives.
This law makes it possible to authorise one of its members to take the procedures for registering the association, adopting the national address in communication, and allowing the new member of the association to enjoy all of their rights without the need for six months to pass after joining the association, as was the case in the previous repealed law.
Al-Kuwari added that the amendments organised the mechanism for conducting the general assembly elections to the board of directors, in a way that contributes to promoting equal opportunities among all members of the assembly, and allows them to view the records of the members who have the right to run and be elected, by publishing the board of directors a list of the names of the members who have fulfilled their obligations towards the association, at the associations headquarters or its website, or both, at least 60 days before the date of the general assembly's meetings.
He pointed out that the amendments also allowed formal communication between the association and its members by e-mail, while it was previously only by registered mail, in order to enhance communication between members and the association, keep abreast of technological development, and equal opportunities among members to attend general assembly meetings and participate in elections, and the amendments stipulated the formation of the election commission is one of the association's members, in a move that would achieve independence for associations in managing the election process for their boards of directors without the ministry's interference.
Al-Kuwari indicated that the amendments will contribute to facilitating the practice of societies for their activities that are compatible with their objectives in its articles of association only under the Ministry's notification, instead of prior authorisation when they wish to participate or organise seminars, conferences, training courses or similar activities.
In addition, the amendments specified the period of time for associations to keep their financial and administrative records and clarified the types of records, which reduces the burden on associations to keep all types of records for an indefinite period, It also allowed the members of the General Assembly to view all the associations records in a step that would achieve governance in the work of associations, and activate the General Assembly's monitoring of the Board of Directors.
Al-Kuwari noted that the amendments also included a progression in the penalties involved, and the possibility of holding a member or director accountable if the member committed a violation that offends the association, without punishing the association. It also allowed for reconciliation in the crimes stipulated in the law.
For his part, Director of the Private Associations and Institutions Department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Naji al-Aji confirmed that decree law No. 21 of 2020 reflects the states keenness to manage diversity in relation to non-governmental organisations and the services they provide similar to and complementary to what the state provides.
Al-Aji explained that the relationship between the ministry and associations is complementary in a way that serves the public interest, and provides services that allows flexibility for associations in dealing with members or dealing with other institutions in a way that serves the public interest in the state and enriches the social, cultural, professional, scientific and educational activities provided by these associations.
In a press conference held yesterday, al-Kuwari said that the ministry will communicate with the heads of private organisations to present the most important amendments included in decree law No. 21 in more detail. It will also answer queries. He expressed gratitude to members of the boards of directors and general assemblies in all private associations and institutions for their important role in achieving partnership and co-operation between state institutions, associations and private institutions to achieve the goals of national development, and in appreciation of the role they play in providing many social, scientific, cultural and professional services, stressing that the ministry is working continuously to support this partnership and provide a helping hand and support to these community institutions.
This is because, he said, these organisations represent a real support in the implementation of the ministry's tasks and because of the real value it embodies in social capital, as indicated by Qatar National Vision 2030. Al-Kuwari stated that the decree law No. 21 of 2020 aims to give private associations and institutions more flexibility to achieve their goals that are compatible with their objectives.
This law makes it possible to authorise one of its members to take the procedures for registering the association, adopting the national address in communication, and allowing the new member of the association to enjoy all of their rights without the need for six months to pass after joining the association, as was the case in the previous repealed law.
Al-Kuwari added that the amendments organised the mechanism for conducting the general assembly elections to the board of directors, in a way that contributes to promoting equal opportunities among all members of the assembly, and allows them to view the records of the members who have the right to run and be elected, by publishing the board of directors a list of the names of the members who have fulfilled their obligations towards the association, at the associations headquarters or its website, or both, at least 60 days before the date of the general assembly's meetings.
He pointed out that the amendments also allowed formal communication between the association and its members by e-mail, while it was previously only by registered mail, in order to enhance communication between members and the association, keep abreast of technological development, and equal opportunities among members to attend general assembly meetings and participate in elections, and the amendments stipulated the formation of the election commission is one of the association's members, in a move that would achieve independence for associations in managing the election process for their boards of directors without the ministry's interference.
Al-Kuwari indicated that the amendments will contribute to facilitating the practice of societies for their activities that are compatible with their objectives in its articles of association only under the Ministry's notification, instead of prior authorisation when they wish to participate or organise seminars, conferences, training courses or similar activities.
In addition, the amendments specified the period of time for associations to keep their financial and administrative records and clarified the types of records, which reduces the burden on associations to keep all types of records for an indefinite period, It also allowed the members of the General Assembly to view all the associations records in a step that would achieve governance in the work of associations, and activate the General Assembly's monitoring of the Board of Directors.
Al-Kuwari noted that the amendments also included a progression in the penalties involved, and the possibility of holding a member or director accountable if the member committed a violation that offends the association, without punishing the association. It also allowed for reconciliation in the crimes stipulated in the law.
For his part, Director of the Private Associations and Institutions Department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Naji al-Aji confirmed that decree law No. 21 of 2020 reflects the states keenness to manage diversity in relation to non-governmental organisations and the services they provide similar to and complementary to what the state provides.
Al-Aji explained that the relationship between the ministry and associations is complementary in a way that serves the public interest, and provides services that allows flexibility for associations in dealing with members or dealing with other institutions in a way that serves the public interest in the state and enriches the social, cultural, professional, scientific and educational activities provided by these associations.
