Head of Awareness Guidance and Labour at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), Ali Al Khalaf (left); and Assistant Director General for Government Relations and Committees Affairs at Qatar Chamber, Ali Bu Sherbak
Doha: The Qatar Chamber (QC) recently held an introductory seminar to raise awareness among private sector companies about the importance of joint labour committees. During the event, which was organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), Head of Awareness Guidance and Labour at MADLSA, Ali Al Khalaf, announced that work is under way in the Ministry to launch an application to facilitate the process of forming joint labour committees in Qatar.
Speaking under the theme ‘Conditions and Procedures of the Joint Committees’ Representatives in Companies’ on Thursday at the Chamber’s headquarters, Al Khalaf spoke about the procedures of forming joint labour committees which consist of representatives of employers and workers that hold regular meetings to discuss all labour-related issues and address any negative obstacles.
He said these committees play an important role in strengthening the atmosphere of cooperation, improving labour relationships and increasing organisational efficiency within companies, and addressing complaints internally, especially inside large companies that employ large number of workers. He also praised the role of these committees in raising awareness of labourers on health instruction during the current crisis of Covid-19.
He added that each joint committee consists of representatives from employers and workers. He said the Ministry provides training for those who are responsible for selecting these joint committees, pointing out that the percentage of representatives is determined by the number of workers according to the labour law.
He added that any company recruiting more than 30 workers has the right to form its joint labour committee.
Speaking earlier during his opening remarks, Assistant Director General for Government Relations and Committees Affairs at QC, Ali Bu Sherbak Al Mansouri, said that the Chamber attaches great importance to providing a suitable climate for employment and improving the relationship between employers and workers, affirming that this will impact positively on the productivity of companies and help in stabilising the labour market in the country.
Al Mansouri also noted that the mandate of the Chamber’s sectorial committees is to consider obstacles pertaining to the private sector such as labour-related issues, assuring that the Chamber is keen to enhance cooperation with all concerned entities to tackle these issues.
He paid tribute to the role played by the joint labour committees in promoting cooperation between employers and employees and addressing any problems arising inside the company. Many representatives of contracting companies were present at the event which examined mechanisms of selecting percentage of workers’ representatives in joint labour committees.
The seminar also highlighted the role of joint labour committees in creating stimulating labour environment and raising the level of work, thereby increasing production of companies.
