DOHA: The Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University is working on developing an index on welfare of expatriate workers in Qatar.
The “Guest Workers’ Welfare Index”, the first of its kind in Qatar will serve as a study on the progress of workers’ welfare and safety in Qatar over time.
It will be based on the findings of a survey on guest workers to be conducted by SESRI, in addition to other official data.
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Abdullah bin Saleh Al Khulaifi recently opened a workshop on the Index hosted by SESRI. Some 25 national and international experts as and researchers who developed similar indices in various countries attended the workshop.
The minister was joined by QU president Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham and SESRI director Dr Darwish Al Emadi and other ministry officials.
In his opening remarks, Al Khulaifi highlighted the role of foreign workers in the construction of Qatar’s public facilities and infrastructure, pointing to the country’s ongoing efforts to provide the workers with safe and better living environment.
“The ministry enhanced the living conditions of guest workers through implementation of various solutions such as upgrading housing standards, increasing the number of health and safety inspectors from 150 to 350, limiting working hours during summer time, and many others”, said the minister.
“By monitoring this index, Qatar University is contributing to fulfilling guest workers’ welfare and safety, and helping us to improve their living conditions,” he added.
He also stressed the themes that should be addressed in the index such as the establishment of a legislation for guest workers which defines their rights and obligations, provision of health and safety standards on work sites, recruitment practices and regulations, and right to file complaints.
The program included presentations by SESRI members: head of research Dr Abdoulaye Diop, research program manager Dr Justin Gengler, and senior policy analyst Dr Michael Ewers and University of Michigan research professor Dr Michael W Traugott. Topics included “developing the overall themes of the Guest Workers’ Welfare Index”, “constructing the specific elements of the Guest Workers’ Welfare Index”, “Operationalizing of the selected themes of the Index – drafting the questions”, and “composing the Index”.
Dr Al Emadi said: “We look forward to the outcomes and recommendations that will emerge from this survey, which will help us enhance guest workers’ living and working conditions, in line with the Human Development pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The Peninsula
DOHA: The Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University is working on developing an index on welfare of expatriate workers in Qatar.
The “Guest Workers’ Welfare Index”, the first of its kind in Qatar will serve as a study on the progress of workers’ welfare and safety in Qatar over time.
It will be based on the findings of a survey on guest workers to be conducted by SESRI, in addition to other official data.
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Abdullah bin Saleh Al Khulaifi recently opened a workshop on the Index hosted by SESRI. Some 25 national and international experts as and researchers who developed similar indices in various countries attended the workshop.
The minister was joined by QU president Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham and SESRI director Dr Darwish Al Emadi and other ministry officials.
In his opening remarks, Al Khulaifi highlighted the role of foreign workers in the construction of Qatar’s public facilities and infrastructure, pointing to the country’s ongoing efforts to provide the workers with safe and better living environment.
“The ministry enhanced the living conditions of guest workers through implementation of various solutions such as upgrading housing standards, increasing the number of health and safety inspectors from 150 to 350, limiting working hours during summer time, and many others”, said the minister.
“By monitoring this index, Qatar University is contributing to fulfilling guest workers’ welfare and safety, and helping us to improve their living conditions,” he added.
He also stressed the themes that should be addressed in the index such as the establishment of a legislation for guest workers which defines their rights and obligations, provision of health and safety standards on work sites, recruitment practices and regulations, and right to file complaints.
The program included presentations by SESRI members: head of research Dr Abdoulaye Diop, research program manager Dr Justin Gengler, and senior policy analyst Dr Michael Ewers and University of Michigan research professor Dr Michael W Traugott. Topics included “developing the overall themes of the Guest Workers’ Welfare Index”, “constructing the specific elements of the Guest Workers’ Welfare Index”, “Operationalizing of the selected themes of the Index – drafting the questions”, and “composing the Index”.
Dr Al Emadi said: “We look forward to the outcomes and recommendations that will emerge from this survey, which will help us enhance guest workers’ living and working conditions, in line with the Human Development pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The Peninsula
