Doha, 18 Apr. 2022

National Human Rights Committee (NHRC),  Qatar in collaboration with Qatar Red Crescent Society recently organised two awareness seminars for the knowledge of senior management of industries / factories  based in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Mesaieed Industrial City and Dukhan District.

Al Hajri stressed that the campaign also aims to enhance the role of companies in solving the problems that prevent workers from effectively exercising their rights, and to identify any obstacles that may stand in the way of employers and workers enjoying their rights.

He said that around 100 managers representing more than 10 companies in Ras Laffan Industrial City participated in first seminar. Whereas, around 140 managers participated in second seminar from a number of factories based in Mesaieed Industrial City and 10 stations based in Dukhan.

He said that among the topics of discussions during seminars included Labour Law No. 14, dated 2014 and it’s provisions about which employer must have the knowledge.

Workers to know the rights of the employer specially in the event of transfer request of employee to any competitor company and any fees payment involved while transferring to the new employer which is mentioned and is part of the employee contract. Moreover, in case of transfer request to new employer, one month prior notice is required for a contract of two years and less, two months notice period is required if the contract tenure is above two years, Al Hajri added.

Topics discussed during the seminar also covered in situation of violating the terms of the contract or provisions of contract and leaves the country, the worker cannot come back to Qatar until one year from the date of departure.

The employee must leave the country within 90 days from the date of completion of his job or cancellation of his residence visa due to any reason or expiry of the residence visa.

The seminars also dealt with the procedure and means to resolve the labor disputes through Labour Department and Labour Dispute Resolution Committee.

The employer may not keep the worker’s travel document and it is not permissible to work without  written and agreed agreement between both the employee and the employer duly certified the by Labour Department. The worker to obtain its contract copy which will be required in the event of any dispute.

He said that about the role of NHRC was also informed including working to the achieve the goals in international conventions related to human rights  ratified by the state, expressing  it's opinion on national legislation, it’s compatibility with the international human rights standards, and monitoring the human rights situation through visits and receiving complaints and petitions spreading awareness and education on human rights.

 NHRC Director Programmes and Education expressed his happiness and satisfaction specially on interactive questions and answers session in both the seminar. He said that Q & A session made the event purposeful and in achieving the goals.

He was hopeful that NHRC efforts in creating awareness about importance of human rights and implementation on these will help in resolving labor disputes as well as prevent from escalating.

Al Hajri said that senior management from three major industrial sectors of Qatar will be passing on their knowledge carrying from these seminars onward to the workers of their respective factories through their supervisors.

He said that the participants will also be distributing flyers among their workers prepared by NHRC with the necessary information on rights of the workers and the employers in various languages.