A/HRC/44/57/Add.33
National Bank work to implement these recommendations and are keen on monitoring the
commitment of Small institutions to Wages Protection System. Those procedures are in line
with the recommendations (66) (b) of the Rapporteur.
(m) In accordance with the Law No. (17) of (2018), the State of Qatar, has
established a Workers' Support and Insurance Fund. The Fund aims to pay the workers’ dues
adjudicated by the Labour disputes Settlement Committees in the event of the company’s
default or inability to pay workers’ wages, so as to avoid procedures that may take a long
time and impede workers from meeting their commitment towards their families or towards
others. In addition, the Fund guarantees speedy payments of the financial entitlements upon
completion of service and renders the return of the expatriate to his country easy and feasible.
The Fund also benefit both domestic workers and those working in private sector.
(n)
The Fund provides support and ensures the welfare for the employees by
providing them with a healthy working-environment and accommodation in residential
complexes equipped with playgrounds, recreation and social facilities.
(o)
The State of Qatar takes legal measures against enterprises and firms violating
the Wages Protection System including: preventing them from bringing in new workers , by
referring them to the security agencies in preparation for referral to the public prosecution
for violation of the provisions of article no. (66) of labour law and granting employees of
the violating firm the freedom of moving to another employer. The Ministry took measures
in 42383 cases to cease cooperation with companies violating the provisions of the labour
law, and 33528 automatic blocking against companies’ violations of the Wages Protection
System.
(p)
Qatar Visa Centers “Wisa” were established to avoid contracts replacement
and variation of translation of the provisions of contracts of domestic workers and contracts
of specialized, skilled, technical or normal workers of the private and public sectors. The
Centers allow electronic signing of the contract by the worker with the possibility of contract
been read in a mother tongue language and that will give the employee a better chance of
understanding the contract and of bargaining when not satisfied with any of the contract’s
provisions. It also guarantees the non-existence of any contradiction between the
employment offers which are announced by the recruiting offices in the labour sending
counties and the legal terms of the contract.
(q)
These centers have been established in countries that send workers. Through
these centers, finger prints, medical test and electronic signature of contracts are also done
before coming to the State of Qatar. Those centers form a milestone in the elimination of
fraud associated with payments and recruitment and also provide the necessary protection for
workers against any exploitation, as well as facilitating the documentation of labour contracts
before arriving into Qatar. Such measures guarantee labour rights and non-change of the
offers formerly agreed on – all that is carried out through integrated electronic services
characterized by speed and easiness. In addition, all these services are free of charges and the
cost is born by the employer through Bank remittance. It is worth mentioning that such
Centers have been opened in six countries of labour origin, namely, Sri-Lanka, Philippines,
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. However, there are plans to establish centers in
Kenya, Ethiopia and Tunisia. All this falls in line with the recommendation (66) (c) of the
Special Rapporteur.
B.
Protection of domestic workers’ rights
Para 28, 29, 30, 32 and 33: We highlight the government’s efforts to address the violations
listed in these points as follows:
1)
Law no. (15) of 2017 on Domestic Workers’ provisions comply with the International
Labour Standards and the provisions of the Convention No. (189) of ILO on decent work for
Domestic Workers. Below is a list of the guarantees provided by the Law to protect domestic
female workers from the violations mentioned:
(a)
Article (12) stipulates that “the maximum working hours are ten hours per day,
unless agreed otherwise, these include periods for prayers, rest and meals, which are not
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