Qatar: ITUC-African Delegation Hails Qatar Efforts For Workers Reforms

M Ashraf Siddiqui

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20/02/2022

Doha, 20 Feb. 2021

Ayuba Wabba, President, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has hailed Qatar's efforts to improve the workers reforms both minimum wages and facilities. He said these efforts ensuring the protection of human rights of migrant workers.

A 11 member delegation from eight African countries was on a two day visit to Qatar was to follow-up to the commitment that the African Workers Group made during 2021 Africa-Arab Labour Migration Webinar Conference. The conference was hosted by International Labour Organisation (ILO), to continue exploring means to improve fair recruitment and labour migration governance in general.

Present were also Martha Molema, President Botswana Federation of Trade Unions; Francis Atwoli, Secretary General of Central Organisation of Trade Unions, Kenya.

Talking to www.asiantelegraphqatar.com after addressing a press conference held at the end of their visit in Hotel Four Seasons, Doha, Wabba who visited first time to Qatar said that during their stay in Qatar, the delegation has met Officials of ILO, Ministry of Labour, National Human Rights Committee, Shura Council, Community leaders from Asian and African expatriate communities.

Ayuba Wabba said that certain recommendations have been given to the Qatar government and the organisation will continue to work with Qatar in order to achieve improvement in work culture.

He said that the ITUC-Africa delegation is very much satisfied with the workers conditions after also visiting several workers accommodations and construction sites.

ITUC-Africa President said that the delegation members were impressed during it's visit to Afghan refugees camp, it was an impressive show of solidarity and commitment towards our shared humanity.

Earlier, addressing to press conference, Kwasi Adu-Amakwah, General Secretary of ITUC-Africa welcomed the labour reforms by Qatari authorities and mentioned as progressive. However, he said that there are certain challenges to it's implementation and there is still room for improvement as the efforts are in-progress, however, after interactions with the workers, we are confident that the reforms are real and are being implemented, with some challenges," Adu-Amakwah said.

He said that signing of labour contracts in Qatar Visa Centres (QVC) before migrant workers’ departure to Qatar avoid discrepancies upon arrival in Qatar, and the establishment of workers’ representative councils have resulted ensuring the rights of workers.

Qatar labour reforms eliminates exit visa requirement, provides freedom to change employers and introduced minimum wages. These have led to the progressive reform of the sponsorship system. Also, it has implemented a national minimum wage payment. He said that the reforms have also delivered improved health and safety requirements in construction sites and anywhere the temperature exceeds a certain degree.

The ITUC-Africa General Secretary said that there is a significant and growing number of African migrants living and working in Qatar. Also, in the wake of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, migrant inflow to Qatar significantly has increased.

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