For its part, Al-Watan newspaper said in its editorial that the Cabinet, in its regular meeting held Wednesday, chaired by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, approved a draft decision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry setting the framework of working hours in similar commercial, industrial and public establishments.It aims to enhance control and supervision over all types establishments, determine and organize working hours to ensure the availability of services and products at specific and known times, organize markets and prevent unfair competition between all types of establishments, and protect workers rights and prevent them from being exposed to unfair or stressful working conditions.
The issue of ensuring a decent life for migrant workers has been a priority in Qatar, where labor laws and practices have been reformed to create a system that meets the needs of both workers and employers, the paper said, noting that these reform
s have been praised by leading human rights groups and UN organizations, making Qatar a leader in labor market reforms in the Gulf region.
Al-Watan concluded by saying that these reforms were the result of years of careful planning. This includes the decision to abolish exit visas for residents, allowing employees to change employers freely without requiring a no-objection certificate from their current employer, and the establishment of 14 Qatar Visa Centers in various countries, which has expedited the recruitment process and ensured workers are not exploited in their home countries. Additionally, the creation of a Workers Support and Insurance Fund ensures care and protects their rights. A minimum wage has also been established for all employees across all sectors in the country, including domestic workers, marking the first of its kind in the region.
English-language newspaper The Peninsula said in its editorial that the State of Qatar has implemented a fair and transparent system to protect and ensure
human rights for all its population. The state has set up National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) as an independent and permanent official body with a separate legal personality and an independent budget to promote and protect human rights in the country.
Under the title” Protecting Rights”, the newspaper highlighted discussion of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights of the third periodic report of Qatar, as a party to the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
In this regard, the paper pointed out that HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater presented a comprehensive overview of the fundamental reforms undertaken by Qatar in the field of human rights, noting Qatar’s firm commitment to human rights principles and constructive cooperation with the Committee. HE provided concrete examples of these reforms through specific programmes and projects in several areas, including womens empowerment, child protection, and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
The comm
ittees discussions focused on main axes, including the goals of the Charter, the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to life and physical integrity, combating slavery and human trafficking, the judiciary and the right to access it, civil and political freedoms, the right to individual property and freedom of opinion and expression, protection of the family, especially women and children, the right to work, the right to development, the right to health, and the rights of persons with disabilities, the newspaper added.
The Peninsula concluded by saying that the Charter Committee also held a closed meeting with NHRC to discuss the human rights situation in the country from the NHRCs perspective. HE Chairman of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights Counselor Jaber Saleh Al Marri congratulated Qatar on its re-election as a member of UN Human Rights Council, and expressed his hope that this election would contribute to strengthening Qatars efforts in the field of protecting human rights at the
international level.
Source: Qatar News Agency
