Workers’ rights
ILO: Qatar’s workers’ charter took only some ILO recommendations
GENEVA – The ILO has taken note of the press release issued today by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of Qatar, making reference to the role of the ILO with regard to the Workers’ Welfare Standards (WWS) prepared by the Committee.
The ILO was indeed requested by the Supreme Committee to provide comments on a draft version of the WWS in January 2014 and did so.
An initial analysis of the standards published today indicates that some of the ILO comments have been taken into account, for example in respect of prohibition of retention of workers’ passports by employers, prohibition of the collection of deposits from workers, the protection of wage payments and some aspects related to working time.
However other ILO comments, in particular concerning fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association and collective bargaining, as well as the adoption of a minimum wage or a living wage, are not reflected in the current text.
The ILO remains in a process of dialogue with the Government of Qatar with regard to labour issues in the country.
The ILO was indeed requested by the Supreme Committee to provide comments on a draft version of the WWS in January 2014 and did so.
An initial analysis of the standards published today indicates that some of the ILO comments have been taken into account, for example in respect of prohibition of retention of workers’ passports by employers, prohibition of the collection of deposits from workers, the protection of wage payments and some aspects related to working time.
However other ILO comments, in particular concerning fundamental principles and rights at work, including freedom of association and collective bargaining, as well as the adoption of a minimum wage or a living wage, are not reflected in the current text.
The ILO remains in a process of dialogue with the Government of Qatar with regard to labour issues in the country.