Doha, 02 Jan. 2022

National Human Rights Committee of Qatar has announced launching of month long campaign ‘ Together we work ‘ (You have a right and you have a duty) as part of the implementation of the committee’s work strategy aimed at enhancing awareness at the national level and the need for cooperation to consolidate knowledge of workers’ rights and duties and to spread a culture of human rights in general.

In a statement issued by Abdulla Ali Al-Mahmoud, Director Public Relations and Media at the NHRC, has said that the relationship between workers and employers is based on social justice. It has four axes 1) Health; 2) Working Hours; 3) Decent Housing; and 4) Occupational Safety.

He said that constitution of State of Qatar and it’s labour laws provide their rights to both the workers of both the genders as well as the employers. Moreover, reinforced by international human rights conventions ratified by the state, especially in light of the legal amendments in Qatari legislation emphasizing on the protection of workers’ rights.

The awareness campaign about workers and employers rights will last for a month with the aim also to raise awareness of the role of the committee in protecting and promoting human rights, and to enable employers and workers to know and enjoy their rights in accordance with the legislative developments in the country, and to improve the economic and social situation of workers and employers.

Al Mahmoud stressed the importance of this campaign as it targets an important segment of society that plays a major role in advancing the development process in the country. The National Human Rights Committee gives great importance to the issues of workers and the business houses owners. Both work with the aim of consolidating the principles of human rights and translating them on the ground in the various fields of work and contributing to overcoming all obstacles that prevent all parties from enjoying full and undiminished rights.

The National Human Rights Committee has targeted different groups of society for awareness about the role of the Committee in protecting human rights, pointing to the many controls, systems and legislation that the worker and the employer must abide.

Al-Mahmoud noted that the Qatari Labor Law guarantees all professional and social rights for workers, as well as the rights of employers in accordance with a contractual relationship between the two parties, stressing the strengthening and affirmation of workers’ rights, providing appropriate conditions for work, and means of preventing work dangers and damages, and ensuring health conditions for workers, based on social justice.

He said that the campaign will focus on each axis weekly starting from Workers Health during first week, Working Hours and rest times will be addressed in 2nd week of the campaign. Providing of adequate Housing is topic of the 3rd week, whereas awareness on  Occupational Safety will be held during the 4th week of the month. NHRC will evaluate and measure the impact and extent of achieving desired goals through numerical indicators.

During the month long awareness campaign, educational lectures will be conducted in the camps, industrial premises; various centers of Qatar Red Crescent, related material on the rights of workers and employers will be distributed along with distribution of posters, brochures, documentaries, telephone messages, articles and reports through various media forums including through television programs.

In order to improve better relationship between workers and the employers and further better working condition of workers, Round Tables discussions will also be held with embassy officials, economists, academics, company representatives, members of the media, professionals, international organizations and other relevant authorities.

At the end of the month long campaign ‘ Together We Work ‘, those companies which abided the local laws on workers rights and has no violations record during 2020-2021  will be honoured.