The National Human Rights Committee today expressed its welcome to the promulgation of Law No. (17) of 2020 issued by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, regarding setting the minimum wage for workers and domestic workers, in addition to Decree Law No. (19) of 2020 To amend the provisions of Law No. (21) of 2015 regulating entry, exit and residency of expatriates.
Mrs. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee, described these steps as a milestone in the history of the reality of employment in the region, so that the State of Qatar is the first to adopt a non-discriminatory minimum wage in the region. She said: “These positive decisions by the leadership of the state confirm the pioneering approach towards achieving the National Vision 2030 and the sincere will to preserve and protect human dignity in the State of Qatar.”
Al-Attiyah added, “These decisions are a true indication that the State of Qatar is moving steadily towards preserving workers’ rights and taking care of them in line with its international, regional and national commitments, in addition to that they come in the context of improving the living conditions of workers in the State of Qatar.”
She pointed out that the reforms undertaken by the state also come out of respect and promotion of the basic principles of human rights, pointing out that the hierarchy of reforms undertaken by the state had a significant impact on reducing violations of workers’ rights.
She pointed out that this is confirmed by the decrease in the rate of complaints received by the National Human Rights Commission, and according to the annual reports it publishes related to the human rights situation in the country.
Al-Attiyah noted the response of state institutions to the recommendations of the National Human Rights Committee, which are contained in its reports, which contributed widely to the advancement of human rights in general and labor rights in particular, noting that the National Human Rights Committee has been closely following the reforms that the state is making in the labor law. Which can be described from the last two decisions in compliance with the state’s obligations towards the international law.
The Secretary-General of the National Commission for Human Rights said that the abolition of the requirements imposed on workers with the necessity of non-objection from the employer in the event they want to change the direction of work, as well as setting a minimum wage, is conducive to the realization of basic human rights in the state.
She added that the National Human Rights Committee appreciates the state’s efforts, and as we encourage these reform steps, we renew the call to the government of the State of Qatar to move forward with its legislative developments in the path of ensuring the rights of the partners in the renaissance in the State of Qatar.
Al-Attiyah noted that when the National Human Rights Committee looks at these developments positively, it encourages the state to continue with these reforms and affirms its full and complete readiness to cooperate with all concerned authorities within the state, especially the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs in order to make these important positive steps succeed and to bring these decisions to bear. The ground is optimized.
