The State of Qatar joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1972 and ratified six conventions including five of the fundamental conventions. Since then Qatar affirmed its commitment to labour issues and started implementation of first phase of technical cooperation programme with ILO as part of the extensive labour reforms in 2017. The second phase of the technical cooperation programme runs from July 2021 until the end of 2023.
The Programme reflects the common commitment of Qatar and the ILO to cooperate on ensuring compliance with ratified international labour conventions, as well as achieving fundamental principles and rights at workplaces in Qatar in a gradual manner.
Qatar introduced legislation that reformed the laws which granted abolition of the Kafala or sponsorship system, right of workers to change jobs, exit without permission of employers, implementation of the minimum wage decision all of which entered into force years ago. Accordingly, several significant changes that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the process and procedures aimed at protecting the rights of workers have been made. The ILO progress report for December 2021 indicated that over 242,870 workers changed jobs between October 2020 and October 2021 and applauded the labour laws reforms.
Although some organisations kept questioning the seriousness of Qatari labour law reforms - for purposes that do not serve the interests of workers -, the international community acknowledged and stressed the seriousness and importance of these reforms as being introduced under a high level of transparency and openness of the State of Qatar to cooperate with all concerned, and such created partnership with ILO to implement technical programmes jointly. The Arab Group at the ILO has chosen recently Qatar as the group’s coordinator at the organisation in Geneva, within the framework of the organising of the works of Arab countries in the ILO, where the Ministry of Labour will undertake the task.
As well the latest annual report of the European Union on “Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2021” praised the labor laws reforms in Qatar describing it as positive steps, noting that the year 2021 witnessed strong labor reforms in Qatar.
The EU report said that these new reforms made Qatar the first country in the region that allows all workers to change jobs before their contracts expire without the consent of the employer. Qatar is the second country in the Gulf region to set a minimum wage for migrant workers including domestic workers. The report valued the relationship of the National Human Rights Committee and its regular interaction with the institutions of the European Parliament, and Qatar’s invitation to the European Union agency (EUSR) to visit the country.
