Not long ago, several countries from the region and civil society organizations were joking about the situation of workers in Qatar, but the unprecedented steps taken by Doha in the past three years made it a model in the Gulf region in the field of protecting workers' rights.
Qatar is the first country in the Gulf region to completely cancel the sponsorship and give the worker the right to change his workplace without the consent of the employer, in addition to setting a minimum wage that preserves the worker’s dignity and protects him from any extortion that he may be subjected to, through several laws approved by the Emir State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The Qatari steps may motivate the countries of the region that still adopt the sponsorship system and in which workers are exposed to many violations, to get rid of this legacy and follow the Qatari steps in the field of protecting migrant workers and preserving their rights on their lands.
Commenting on the issuance of the minimum wage law and facilitating the movement of workers between employers, the President of the Qatar Chamber, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Muhammad Al Thani, stressed that the major reforms undertaken by Qatar during the past years are consistent with the objectives of the National Vision 2030, especially with regard to attracting the required expatriate workers and sponsoring Rights, and promote economic growth opportunities.
Sheikh Khalifa valued the promulgation of the law determining the minimum wage and the law to facilitate the movement between different employers, stressing that these reforms reduce recruitment costs for private sector companies and support their plans to diversify their activities and expand in various economic sectors.
Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim confirmed that the major reforms undertaken by the state are in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 (Al Jazeera)
Protection of expatriate workers
In an interview with Al-Jazeera Net, Sheikh Khalifa indicated that setting the minimum wage and facilitating the transition between different workplaces are an important addition to the labor market reforms initiated by the State of Qatar many years ago by strengthening labor laws and protecting expatriate workers.
The President of the Qatar Chamber stressed that these decisions will significantly contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the Qatari economy regionally and globally, as well as enhancing competition and productivity in the local labor market, thus providing an opportunity for private sector companies to contract with the skilled and trained workers needed by the Qatari labor market, which is This will contribute to diversifying the economy.
He pointed out that the application of the minimum wage in the State of Qatar, which will include domestic workers, is a unique decision that will achieve a balance between the interests of workers and employers at the same time, as well as its contribution to strengthening the stability of the local labor market, explaining that facilitating the transition between different employers It will provide an opportunity to recycle expatriate workers in the local market to meet the needs of companies, who have acquired new experiences and skills.
Attorney Rashid bin Saad Al Saad, a member of the advisory office of the Qatar Financial Center, agreed with the President of the Qatar Chamber that setting a minimum wage for workers in Qatar is a qualitative leap in the wage system in the country and enhances transparency, making Qatar one of the first countries in the region that sets a limit Lowest wages.
Attorney Rashid Al Saad confirmed that setting a minimum wage for workers in Qatar is a qualitative leap in the wage system in the country (Al Jazeera)
Old criticism
Al Saad added, in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net, that old criticisms were directed at Qatar in the field of sponsorship, but today, with these steps that enable the worker to move to a new job without requiring the approval of his sponsor, it gives an unprecedented big move in the entire Gulf region, calling on the countries of the region to Following the example of Qatar's labor and labor reforms.
Al Saad said that the issuance of a law on determining the minimum wage for workers and domestic workers serves everyone and is in the interest of the workers, as well as the employer, indicating that setting a minimum wage and facilitating the movement of workers will have a positive impact on the economic life in the country and enhance competitiveness among companies. .
He explained that providing a good legislative environment contributes to attracting more investments to the country, adding that the State of Qatar proves to the world that it places expatriate workers at the forefront of its priorities and takes into account their interests, based on its belief in the great role that the expatriate worker achieves to the country and the citizen.
The Emir of the State of Qatar had issued a law setting the minimum wage for workers and domestic workers, as well as an amendment to the law regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates, and the law sets the minimum basic monthly wage for workers and employees at one thousand Qatari riyals (equivalent to $ 275).
The amendments also included tightening penalties for employers in the event of failure to pay workers' financial dues. The new law included facilitating the transition between employers in a manner that preserves the rights of employers and their workers.