Laws in place to protect workers’ rights: Official

The Ministry of Labour has issued a slew of laws and ministerial decisions to protect workers at workplace and safeguard their rights, said an official.

“Qatar adopted the concept of occupational health and safety by issuing the first labour law in 1962, playing a proactive role in this regard,” said Hussein Al Ahbabi, Director of Inspection Department at Ministry of Labour.

Speaking to Qatar Radio, Al Ahbabi said that the Law No. 14 of 2004 which is in place now added some provisions related to occupational health and safety specifying the accountabilities of employers in providing safe work environment for workers.

He said that the law also defines risks and how to provide protection and other health instructions in this regard. “A number of ministerial decisions were issued providing details about occupational health and safety,” said Al Ahbabi.

For example, he said, ministerial decision No. 20 of 2005 specifies precautions and steps that should be taken in the workplace to protect workers and visitors from occupational hazards.

“The National Committee on Occupational Health and Safety was set up comprising members from a number of entities to enhance the efforts for Occupational Health and Safety,” said Al Ahbabi.

He said that the ministerial decision No. 18 of 2014 determined requirements and specifications of adequate housing for workers. “In 2018, the Ministry of Labour in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health had launched National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health to promote the right to safe and healthy workplaces,” said Al Ahbabi.

He said that the ministerial decision 17 of 2021 was issued for taking necessary measures to protect workers from heat stress at workplaces. 

“By adopting this decision Qatar emerged as a role model for neighbouring countries to use the experience of Qatar in this field.”

To protect workers from heat stress, he said, the law extended the legal working hours in outdoor spaces from June 1 to September 15, with work not being allowed between 10am to 3.30pm.

Al Ahbabi said that the provisions of the law also asked the employers to take other measures to protect workers from direct exposure to sun to prevent them from heat stress.

Speaking about the tasks of Labour Inspection Department, he said that it is divided into three sections – wage protection, labour inspection and occupational health and safety standards.

“The Department monitors the implementation of labour legislations, conducting regular and suprise inspection visits to workplace to ensure labour laws and decision are complied with,” said Al Ahbabi.

He said that the department also runs drives to educate employers and workers about curbing violations and taking administrative decisions against the violators.

“We are also evaluating the risks caused by using hazardous materials at workplaces, ensuring salary payment of workers on time and occupational health and safety standards,” said Al Ahbabi.

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