Brussels: High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy H E Josep Borrell underscored that Qatar has made remarkable progress in the workers’ rights field over the past years.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides before the European Parliament, Borrell praised the reforms and legislation implemented by the State of Qatar, saying that Qatar was the first Gulf state to abolish the (kafala) sponsorship system and adopt a new law that sets a non-discriminatory minimum wage for workers.
The European official pointed out that Qatar is at the forefront of ensuring strict control over infrastructure projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and many other projects.
He pointed out that Qatar’s organisation of the 2022 World Cup contributed to accelerating the pace of reforming its work system, calling for the need to continue encouraging it to achieve more progress in this field.
He affirmed the EU’s readiness to support and assist Qatar in the field of human rights, indicating that Qatar has always been open and welcoming to cooperation in this field.
Borrell described the session held by the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament last week with Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh Al Marri as “constructive,” explaining that the human rights situation in Qatar was discussed with great openness.
Earlier, Gilbert F Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had said, “Qatar has made big progress (abolishment of the kafala system, introduction of minimum wages and heat protection measures) in a relatively short time.
“It needs to be said as we don’t see that often. Recognising progress does not mean that the job is done. Now we need a period of consolidation during which institutions in charge of the implementation and the inspection need to be developed. Both, Qatar and the ILO are willing to continue working beyond the FIFA World Cup. The improvement that we have seen in Qatar is unique in the region.”
He also tweeted “Good to speck to FIFA President Gianni Infantino about ILO work with government, employers and workers in Qatar to deliver significant labour reforms. There’s real progress and I look forward to working with all partners on continued improvements well beyond the World Cup.”
In early November, the International Labour Organization issued a progress report on the “Technical Cooperation Programme between the Government of Qatar and ILO,” in which it said, “Following the commitment of the Government of Qatar to continue building on the significant reforms undertaken in the first phase of the technical cooperation programme, and a series of exchanges with other national and international partners, a second phase of the programme was agreed to run from July 2021 to December 2023.”
