Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Qatar (Ratification: 1976)

Article 7 of the Convention. Capacity of labour inspectors. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that the report of the high-level mission to Qatar in February 2015 (GB.323/INS/8(Rev.1) stated that intensive and ongoing training of labour inspectors should be pursued. It also noted the information provided by the Government in its report on the plans for the future training of labour inspectors. In reply to its request for details concerning the training of labour inspectors, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2016 110 inspectors were trained, in collaboration with the ILO, and refers to the training courses held for inspectors during 2015–16 (including in the area of OSH, inspection procedures and the drawing up of inspection reports, etc.). The Committee also notes from the report of the Government in its report to the 328th Session of the Governing Body (November 2016) that all labour inspectors have participated in one or more training courses. Noting the number of recently hired inspectors, the Committee requests that the Government continue to take steps to ensure that new inspectors are adequately trained for the performance of their duties, and provide information on the ongoing training of labour inspectors (including on the number of labour inspectors that received training and the subjects covered, including OSH, passport confiscation, conditions of work and timely wage payments.

Articles 14 and 21(g) of the Convention. Cases of occupational diseases. The Committee notes that the Government indicates, in reply to the Committee’s previous request for information on the measures to improve the identification of cases of occupational diseases, that there are serious efforts to upgrade the unit on occupational safety and health (OSH) to a full department at the Labour Inspection Department. The Government further indicates that the OSH Department will be supported by financial and human resources and equipped with the necessary experience and skills to improve the detection of cases of occupational diseases, in coordination with the competent medical bodies. The Committee requests that the Government continue to provide information on the measures introduced to improve the detection and identification of cases of occupational disease, and ensure that future annual reports on the activities of the labour inspectorate contain statistical information on such cases, in conformity with Article 21(g).

Article 15(c). Obligation to treat as confidential the existence of a complaint giving rise to an inspection. The Committee previously noted that Ministerial Order No. 13 of 2005 requires labour inspectors to maintain confidentiality in relation to only the author of a complaint giving rise to an inspection, but not with respect to the fact that an inspection was undertaken pursuant to a complaint. In reply to the Committee’s request to bring the national legislation into conformity with the requirement of Article 15(c), the Committee notes the Government’s indication that Ministerial Order No. 13 of 2005 is currently in the process of being amended with a view to including the requirement that an inspector not reveal the source of the complaint, nor give any intimation that a visit was made in response to a complaint. The Government adds that a copy of the amendment will be communicated upon its adoption. The Committee requests that the Government continue to provide information on the progress made with the amendment of Ministerial Order No. 13 of 2005, and provide a copy of any legislation adopted in this regard.

Articles 20 and 21. Publication and content of the annual report on the work of the labour inspectorate. The Committee notes that the Government indicates, in reply to the Committee’s previous request concerning the communication of annual labour inspection reports and statistics, that annual labour inspection reports with information on all the subjects listed in Article 21(a)–(g) are regularly prepared, and that reports for 2015 and the first quarter of 2016 have already been communicated to the Office. The Committee notes that no annual report on the labour inspection activities have been received by the Office, but that the Government has communicated detailed inspection statistics in its report on a number of inspection issues. It notes however that not all of the statistics as required under Article 21 have been communicated, including statistics on workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein (Article 21(c)), statistics on penalties imposed (Article 21(e)) and statistics on occupational diseases (Article 21(g)). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it is currently working on a mapping system to facilitate access to workplaces liable to inspection. The Committee requests that the Government take the necessary measures to ensure that annual labour inspection reports are published and that these reports are transmitted to the ILO (containing information on all of the subjects covered by Article 21(a)–(g)).

[The Government is asked to reply in full to the present comments in 2017.]