Doha: The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) celebrated Qatar Human Rights Day, which falls on November 11 each year and coincides with the launch of a series of human rights awareness activities.
In statement, Secretary General of NHRC Sultan Hassan Al Jamali said that the celebration marking Qatar Human Rights Day is a continuation of the State of Qatar’s path towards consolidating and promoting human rights, and that it comes within the framework of a new stage of giving, and an extension of the Committee’s approach that is characterised by independence, pointing out that this year’s celebration came days after the Global Alliance renewed the approval of the committee’s (A) classification which is an indication of its independence, and confirms that the approach it is taking is one of the main reasons for its stability at the top of the classification of national institutions for 15 years.
He stressed that the celebration of Qatar Human Rights, which coincides with the anniversary of its founding on November 11, 2002, reflects the State of Qatar’s appreciation and support for human rights principles, its work to build and promote a culture of human rights, its keenness and constant quest to improve conditions and develop their political, economic and legislative systems and bodies.
He noted the openness of the State of Qatar to developing its legislation to ensure the observance of human rights, especially of the most vulnerable groups, and labour market reforms that included Law No. (17) of 2020 regarding setting the minimum wage for workers and domestic servants, and Decree-Law No. (19) of 2020 amending some Provisions of Law No. (21) of 2015 regulating the entry, exit and residence of expatriates, which was considered a major positive step to agree on human rights principles related to the right to change work, allowing employees to change their workplace freely, limiting working hours in open places during the summer period, and establishing a workers support fund and securing them to guarantee them care, and provide them with their rights, in addition to a healthy and safe work environment.
He also pointed to the importance of the recently launched unified platform for complaints and reports, which enables citizens, expatriates and establishments to report a labor violation such as a labour gathering, inappropriate labour accommodation, or explicit violations at the workplace against the entities subject to the provisions of the Qatari Labour Law and the Domestic Workers Law.
The Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee praised the state’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic by making the vaccine available to everyone free of charge and without discrimination.
