Over 100,000 workers avail digital access

The Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti yesterday announced the launch of the executive and sustainable phase of 'The Better Connections Programme', which will see the establishment of 1,500 computer halls at workers' accommodations over the next two years.

'The programme being implemented by the Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, aims to set up fully-functioning ICT facilities for workers equipped with refurbished hardware.

Addressing the opening ceremony of fourth edition of the  anual Labour Welfare Conference organised by Dar Al Sharq, the Minister said that the program seeks to provide free access to computers for workers, in addition to access to Internet services and training. This will be done by providing IT halls workers' housing locations. Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi also addressed the opening session.

Al Sulaiti added that work is done on 200 IT halls so far, that are equipped with the latest technology to provide digital access to more than 100,000 workers. The current phase will see the number expand from 200 to 1,500 halls in the next two years.

The Minister said that the programme, ever since its launch in 2014, has been working on providing access to the biggest number of workers by partnering with a number of government and private institutions. 

He noted that Qatar has taken a number of steps in recent years to guarantee and protect the rights of workers, due to its belief that the dignity of workers is crucial to the implementation of Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030. He said that the ministry has implemented a strategy to ensure a better digital connection that provides technological access to all citizens. 

Al Nuaimi in his speech said that new residency law has "abolished the Kafala system completely not just modifying, updating or improving it" and this completely affirms the will and keenness of Qatar to promote and protect the rights of expatriate workers.

"Qatar is at the forefront of countries that receive large numbers of expatriate labor force every year and Qatari society has become a unique model for coexistence between people of different faiths and cultures," said the Minister.

He added that Qatar spares no effort in providing expatriate manpower with all means to coexist side by side with their diversified religions, cultures and lifestyles, as well as in protecting and promoting their rights.

Qatar is committed to fulfilling its obligations at the legislative and institutional levels to protect and promote all the rights of expatriate workers including legislative and practical measures to address the issue of non-payment or delay in wages.

He pointed out that expatriate workers achieve mutual benefits through their appreciated efforts in achieving economic growth for the country in general and development in various fields in particular. These benefits also include improving the conditions of expatriate workers and their families in their countries and developing their countries' economy through remittances which estimated at billions of dollars annually according to the World Bank, he added.

Al Nuaimi highlighted some of the achievements made in protecting the rights of expatriate workers, underlining Qatar's keenness to launch a package of policies, legislative and procedural amendments based on mutual consent and transparency in the contract to preserve all the rights of both parties. 

He said that Qatar looks forward to being an example in adopting a legal and ethical commitment in dealing with expatriate workers, which confirms its keenness to raise the standard of living of all expatriate workers.

The conference under the theme "Challenges and Achievements" is being attended by representatives of a number of government entities, institutions and companies in the country as well as a number of human rights organisations. The main sponsors of the event are Qatar Rail Company, Ooredoo, Public Works Authority ( Ashghal) and Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) Islamic Da'wa organization, Aspire Zone and Qatar Chamber are co- sponsors. 

The conference featured three working sessions focusing on the laws and regulations and procedures adopted by Qatar for protecting the rights of workers, the role of private institutions and the vision of the jurists on the rights of workers and what have been achieved in this respect, among other topics.