Doha, Qatar: Protecting workers’ health has remained a key pillar of Qatar’s labour and occupational safety policies, with authorities continuing to introduce initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access and safeguarding employees working in demanding environments.
The latest effort comes with the establishment of a dedicated medical clinic serving more than 3,200 sanitation workers under the Ministry of Municipality’s General Cleanliness Department, bringing healthcare services closer to one of the country’s largest frontline workforces.
The clinic, located within the department’s premises, has been established to provide primary healthcare services, facilitate faster medical intervention and create a healthier workplace for sanitation workers responsible for maintaining public cleanliness across the country.
Speaking to Qatar TV, Assistant Director of the General Cleanliness Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Mohammed Faraj Al Kubaisi said the initiative stemmed from the department’s responsibility toward its large workforce.
“The General Cleanliness Department is responsible for waste collection within the administrative boundaries of Qatar’s municipalities. We have around 3,200 workers, and therefore we saw the need to establish a health clinic to serve them and provide a healthy working environment at the worksite itself,” Al Kubaisi said.
He explained that the clinic has been established in accordance with Qatar’s health regulations and standards and operates as an integrated medical facility comprising a reception area, waiting room, general practitioner, pharmacy and nursing services. It also provides routine health assessments, including blood pressure, body temperature and other vital medical measurements.
According to Al Kubaisi, the clinic is capable of treating common illnesses, chronic conditions and heat-related cases, while urgent medical emergencies requiring specialised care are immediately coordinated with Hamad Hospital and the relevant health authorities.
“For emergency cases, we coordinate directly with the Ministry of Public Health and Hamad Hospital. As for common illnesses, chronic diseases and heat exhaustion cases, these can be treated at the clinic, and if the condition develops further, coordination is made with the authorities concerned,” he said.
The clinic currently operates with two daily shifts to ensure workers across different work schedules have access to healthcare services throughout the day.
Al Kubaisi also underlined the department’s compliance with Qatar’s summer labour regulations designed to protect outdoor workers from extreme temperatures.
“We fully comply with the laws and regulations concerning workers. Work starts at 4am and finishes before the peak heat period begins, to protect workers’ health and prevent sunstroke,” he said.
Describing the project as the first initiative of its kind within the department, he said it could pave the way for similar projects in the future.
“This is a unique experience and the first for the General Cleanliness Department. If the need arises, there is nothing to prevent expanding the initiative, but only after comprehensive studies involving the relevant sectors,” Al Kubaisi said.
He added that investing in workers’ health ultimately benefits the wider community.
“When workers receive proper healthcare and social care, the impact is reflected on society. Public cleanliness becomes more sustainable and the standard of services rises. The international recognition Qatar received for its cleanliness during the FIFA World Cup is the best evidence of that,” he said.
The latest initiative aligns with Qatar’s broader efforts to enhance occupational health and protect workers, particularly during the summer months.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Labour launched a nationwide awareness campaign on heat stress prevention in cooperation with several public and private sector partners ahead of the annual implementation of Ministerial Decision No. 17 of 2021 regulating working hours at outdoor worksites during the summer.
Effective each year from June 1 to September 15, the decision prohibits work in outdoor open areas and shaded locations without adequate ventilation between 10am and 3:30pm, requiring work to resume only after the restricted period ends to protect workers from direct exposure to extreme heat.
The campaign, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent and a number of private sector companies, also reminds employers of their obligation to display clear daily work schedules at outdoor worksites in accordance with the ministerial decision, reinforcing transparency and compliance with Qatar’s labour legislation.
