Qatar is one of the few countries in the world where workers enjoy equal rights and best of facilities such as world-class healthcare, comfortable accommodation, convenient and hassle-free transport, entertainment opportunities and above all timely wage payment. For the last few years, the country has been gradually changing its rules and regulations making it more lenient towards the workforce and sealing off all loopholes to avoid any possible exploitation by employers. These reforms and the country’s treatment of its workers have drawn appreciation from respected international labour groups and trade unions such as International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) to name a few.
But it is surprising to see that there are still some organisations who are either turning a blind eye towards labour reforms in the country or deliberately trying to malign the pristine image of Qatar by fabricating allegations and speak out on totally inaccurate data, which they might have been fed with by the detractors of the country.
The Government Communications Office (GCO) recently said in a statement that the Human Rights Watch misled readers while performing a disservice to those they claim to be assisting by falsely reporting about workers in Qatar. “The current report contains repeated inaccuracies around policies and does not reflect the current situation in Qatar. Nearly all individuals who come to Qatar for employment never experience any form of wage abuse”, the GCO said.
Qatar considers its migrant workers as guests and true to the word the country extend them amenities and facilities fit for guests, which even the so-called advanced countries cannot even dream of. During the time of COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar’s treatment of its workforce has been excellent and exemplary. With dedicated hospitals, quarantine and isolation centres, nutritious food, entertainment facilities and of course the best possible health care, everything free of cost, the country extended an unmatched service to the workers. A visit to one of the labour accommodations will serve as an eye opener for any critic. It is the duty of any international organisation to gather enough facts, data and get information directly from authorities concerned before coming out with allegations. If the reports are spiced with hearsay and inaccuracies it will only serve to dent the credibility of the authors of the report.
The country has a fool-proof system to ensure the workers are getting their wages without delay as it is mandatory for employers to transfer wages through bank. Any company found violating labour rules such as work timing, wage transfer and other requirements is promptly dealt with by competent authorities.
