Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2024, publiée 113ème session CIT (2025)

Convention (n° 81) sur l'inspection du travail, 1947 - Qatar (Ratification: 1976)

Article 3(1) of the Convention. Complaints. Following its previous comments on the reason behind the low number of inspection visits in response to complaints, the Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report that not all complaints require an inspection to be resolved, though complaints concerning occupational safety and health (OSH) necessitate that the workplace be inspected promptly. The Committee also notes that, according to the annual labour inspection report of 2022, out of 39,216 inspection visits undertaken in 2022, only 61 inspections were visits conducted in response to a complaint. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided the total number of complaints received, but it indicates that between 1 January 2023 and 31 August 2023, complaints led to two bans imposed, three reports, four findings of satisfactory conditions and seven warnings to remedy the violation. The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government regarding measures taken to facilitate the submission of confidential complaints, including the development of electronic platforms and the awareness-raising conducted by labour inspectors during labour inspection visits, in the workers’ native languages. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated statistics on the total number of complaints received by the labour inspectorate and the number of inspection visits conducted in response to such complaints. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the types of measures taken in response to complaints that do not lead to an inspection visit.

Article 3(2). Additional duties entrusted to labour inspectors. Following its previous comments, the Committee takes due note that, according to the Government, the duties regarding dispute resolution are assigned to a new department under the Ministry of Labour, pursuant to Ministerial Resolution No. 42 of 2022 on the establishment of a special department for the settlement of labour disputes aimed at preparing qualified and trained employees to resolve and settle labour disputes. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether section 148 of the Labour Code, which empowers labour inspectors to offer “reconciliation” to persons in violation of the Labour Law, continues to apply, and to indicate the role of labour inspectors in such reconciliation.

Articles 14 and 21(f) and (g). Notification. 1. Occupational accidents. Following its previous comments on this matter, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that no accidents go unreported, because the police and ambulance services attend the workplace immediately when there is a work-related injury or fatality. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that a unified State-level programme for reporting occupational accidents and diseases is currently being developed under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the progress made in the development of the unified State-level programme for reporting occupational accidents and diseases and its impact on the notification of occupational accidents to the labour inspectorate. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on other measures taken to strengthen the system for the notification of accidents to the labour inspectorate.

2. Occupational diseases. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Ministry of Health to improve the detection, identification and notification of cases of occupational diseases to the labour inspectorate. The Government also indicates that procedures to detect occupational diseases are currently being developed by the Ministry of Health, although data on occupational diseases have not been recorded due to many migrant workers being on short-term contracts. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the impact of the memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health on the detection, identification and notification of cases of occupational diseases to the labour inspectorate in practice. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress achieved in developing measures to detect occupational diseases and their impact on the notification of occupational diseases to the labour inspectorate.

Articles 20 and 21. Publication and content of the annual report on the work of the labour inspectorate. The Committee takes due note of the annual labour inspection report of 2022, communicated by the Government, which contains information on all the subjects listed under Article 21, except for statistics of occupational diseases. Following its previous comment on this matter, the Committee observes an absence of information regarding whether the annual report of the labour inspectorate is published, in accordance with Article 20. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to publish the annual report of the labour inspectorate. The Committee trusts that the Government will pursue its efforts to ensure the preparation and transmission of the annual labour inspection report, containing all the information outlined in Article 21, including information on occupational diseases (Article 21(g)).