Qatar has always been a role model in the region for protecting workers’ rights and following the same policy of the State, all government and private entities are providing utmost care to workers during COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of steps have been taken so far for the safety of migrant workers from viral outbreak. As well all infected people in the country including workers are being provided with state-of-the-art health facilities and that too sans any charges.
Like other state organisations and companies, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has been at the forefront to ensure that workers’ health and safety requirements are not being compromised by the employers.
The monitoring and field visits team of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has now started the second phase of the exceptional visits to follow up on the precautionary measures undertaken by the State to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
During the follow-up phase, the team held meetings with the Penal and Correctional Institutions Department, the Capital Security Department, the Search and Follow up Department, and the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Interior.
NHRC had formed a field visits team to determine the precautionary measures taken by the State to limit the spread of the coronavirus, as the team started its meetings with the relevant authorities and quarantine centers and the field visits in the first phase last April.
Under phase three of lifting of restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the outbreak, the Ministry of Public Health also launched a COVID-19 testing campaign to swab the workers of beauty centres, barbershops, health clubs and gyms.
The Deputy Chairman of NHRC and head of the visits and monitoring committee Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari said that the second phase comes as a continuation of the first phase undertaken by the team, which included many relevant authorities to follow up the precautionary measures taken by the State to confront the pandemic and limit its spread. He said that that there are new institutions that will be covered in the second phase related to the right to education and the right to practice religious rites.
Al Kuwari added that the visits team followed up the human rights standards stipulated in international laws and covenants during crises, and in light of these exceptional circumstances that the world is facing due to the spread of this pandemic.
