Doha: The State of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) concluded its annual summer awareness campaign for laborers, which was launched on July 7 under the slogan ‘Know the Law, Protect Your Rights,’ in partnership with several government institutions and non-governmental organizations, in addition to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
According to Qatar News Agency, the campaign, which targeted more than 2,500 laborers, aimed to raise awareness of labor laws among laborers and workers, as well as provide awareness of available legal assistance, which would contribute to preventing violations of labor rights and supporting the effectiveness of the labor system in the State of Qatar, in light of the human rights achievements made for this group.
During the speech she delivered at the closing ceremony, HE Chairperson of National Human Rights Committee Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah confirmed that this year’s campaign focused on raising awareness of labor-related laws, promoting compliance, and empowering laborers with legal procedures and mechanisms to protect their rights when needed.
Through this meeting, NHRC renews its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, and its continued efforts to ensure that its message is comprehensive to all topics and groups, especially the most vulnerable groups, Her Excellency said, indicating that the campaign comes within the context of the committee’s efforts to follow up on laborers’ issues, monitor relevant legislative developments, administrative measures, and practices, and work to address emerging challenges.
She commended the important legislative reforms undertaken by the country to enhance laborers’ rights, including enabling them to move freely and change employers. She also praised the comprehensive and integrated approach to Qatar’s labor policy, which places workers’ rights at the core of its measures and practices.
She also expressed her appreciation for the committee’s cooperation with various partners, most notably the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Development and Family, and Ministry of Public Health, in addition to the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, and the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, as well as Qatari humanitarian institutions and civil society organizations.
HE Chairperson of NHRC pointed out that the committee’s proximity policy, which includes opening community offices within its headquarters, enhances access and communication with laborers, and helps identify and address the challenges they face. This is in addition to the important role played by its legal department in receiving and addressing laborers’ complaints in accordance with established laws and procedures, she added.
HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah concluded her speech by extending thanks to the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, the ILO Office in Doha, the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), and all the partners who contributed to the campaign’s success, stressing NHRC’s aspiration to continue its efforts with various national, regional, and international partners.
For his part, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of Medical Affairs at QRCS, Abdullah Sultan Al Qatan, commended the efforts that contributed to the campaign’s success, stressing that it enhances laborers’ awareness and improves their understanding of their rights, thus fostering a healthier and more productive work environment.
He highlighted QRCS’s pride in its partnership with NHRC, and expressed appreciation for its commitment to involving various national and international institutions in its initiatives, reflecting the community’s strong interest in human rights, and laborers’ rights in particular.
In turn, the acting director of ILO’s Office in Doha, Marie-Jose Tayah, said that the campaign’s slogan encapsulates a key message: laws become a true tool for change when laborers understand them, and employers implement them. She emphasized that the legislative reforms adopted by the State of Qatar reflect important steps, and that the challenge lies in ensuring that the laws reach workplaces and laborers’ housing.
NHRC’s closing ceremony of its annual summer awareness campaign for laborers included a documentary film about the campaign’s activities, during which HE Chairperson of NHRC Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah honored the partners in appreciation of their contributions to the campaign’s success.