Al Attiyah said the committee continues its efforts to strengthen its regional role by supporting the establishment of similar national institutions in a number of Arab countries.
She stressed that Qatar has undertaken significant reforms to protect and promote workers’ rights, highlighting NHRC’s important role of providing advisory recommendations to relevant government agencies, receiving worker petitions and assisting them in finding solutions in cooperation with relevant authorities, as well as raising workers’ awareness of their rights through campaigns, training courses, and other awareness-raising activities.
She reviewed key legislative developments in Qatari labour law over the past years, noting that Article 1 of the Law Regulating the entry and exit of expatriates grants expatriate workers the right to transfer to another employer according to procedures determined by the Ministry of Labour. This allows the employer to loan workers to another employer for a period not exceeding six months, renewable for a similar period.
The law also allows expatriates to work part-time for another employer in addition to their original work, after obtaining the employer’s approval.
She pointed out that the amendment includes exemption from exit permits for all employees of companies and institutions subject to the labor law, granting them the right to leave the country at any time during the validity of their employment contract.
Al Attiyah explained that the establishment of the Labour Disputes Settlement Committee, which is responsible for resolving individual disputes arising from the application of the provisions of the Labour Law or the employment contract, has reduced the burden on the courts, improved the right to litigation, and strengthened the protection of workers’ rights.
She noted that the state has exempted workers from paying any fees related to labor lawsuits, noting that the establishment of the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund has provided the necessary protection for workers and enabled them to receive their financial dues without having to wait for their employers to provide them with payment in the event of payment difficulties.
