DOHA: About 1.3 million expatriate workers have benefitted from the wage protection system (WPS) in Qatar, which makes it mandatory on employers to transfer workers' salaries on time to their bank accounts, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Eissa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi said yesterday.
WPS was made mandatory in Qatar on November 3 last year under the amended labour law.
Addressing an event yesterday to mark the International Workers Day and the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the minister said that Qatar, under the leadership of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, continues to work on developing legislations, improve the work environment and maintain the stability and dignity of all working people.
"Several international organisations have appreciated the efforts made by Qatar to improve the situation of workers and their work environment and the required legislations that Qatar has enacted recently. The latest of those efforts was to make a new legislation to guarantee protection of workers' wages. That has made mandatory for employers to transfer their wages on time as per provisions of the labour law and its executive regulations. The total number of workers who benefited from the (wage protection) system was 1.3 million," said the minister.
He noted that Qatar has already made noticeable progress in terms of protecting the rights of foreign workers in the country and will continue to do it, considering their pivotal role in development.
He said Qatar is determined to implement occupational health and safety standards in line with international standards.
The Minister said Qatar is also keen to take necessary action against all entities which are not complying with these global standards.
The Minister also praised companies and institutions that are committed to maintaining the rights of their workers in accordance with the laws of the country.
He also stressed the role of Law No 21 of 2015 regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriate workers that will come into force soon, in safeguarding the rights of both employers and employees under a contractual system.
Several decisions were issued to protect and care expatriate workers including regulations and specifications for suitable workers' housing, fixing their duty hours, the regulation regarding outdoor work during summer and establishment of a special section at the ministry for wage protection, he added.
During the event, the minister honoured several companies and institutions in recognition of their efforts to protect their workers' rights.
© The Peninsula 2016
