Qatar welcomes ILO report, despite acknowledging data gaps | Workers’ Rights News

The study of the deaths of migrant workers in Qatar has shown gaps in the county’s data collection gaps and differences in the nature of work-related incidents, according to a new report by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The ILO said on Friday that it was working with major organizations in Qatar to conduct an in-depth study of work-related injuries and deaths in 2020, but identified errors in the way the facts were identified.

“As a result, it is still not possible to present categorical figures on the number of fatal accidents at work in the country,” the report said, calling for a better way to collect figures and conduct investigations.

At least 50 workers were killed in Qatar last year, more than 500 seriously injured and about 37,600 minor or moderate injuries, ILO reports, One is Too Many (1)PDF), he said.

According to the ILO, most of the workers who suffered work-related accidents came from Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

“Falling from a height and traffic accidents were the main causes of serious injuries, and then objects fell in the workplace,” he added.

‘More work’

The working conditions of Qatari migrant workers have been in the spotlight since 2010 when the Gulf state hosted the 2022 World Cup.

In a statement later on Friday, the Qatari Ministry of Labor welcomed the ILO report and said it was reviewing its recommendations.

“No other country has come this far labor reform in such a short time, but we recognize that there is more work to be done, ”the ministry said, adding that Qatar will continue to work with the ILO to“ ensure that the changes are implemented effectively ”.

“As Qatar has consistently stated and the ILO report confirms, the figures on the death toll of migrant workers in the media have been very misleading. However, improving the health and well-being of foreign workers remains a top priority, ”the Ministry of Labor said.

“In fact, the report indicates a” significant decline in the rate of accidents at work over time, a testament to the strong legislation of our labor reform and the success of our implementation mechanisms. thanks to the heat stress legislation approved in May 2021, ”the ministry added.

In August, Amnesty International in London accused Qatar authorities of failing to investigate the deaths of migrant workers, despite “evidence of links between premature deaths and unsafe working conditions”.

He said, “Qatar issues death certificates to regular migrant workers without proper investigation, and instead attributes the death to ‘natural causes’ or vaguely defined heart deficiencies.”

Qatar Government Communications Office at the time discard Amnesty’s findings state that the country’s “injury and mortality statistics are in line with international best practices and set new standards for the region.”

In its report, the ILO called for a review of its approach to investigating the deaths of young workers who were apparently healthy for “natural causes” in order to determine whether they were work-related and to ensure more accurate identification. cause ”.

This, he said, will ensure that workers and their families receive adequate compensation in the event of an accident at work.

The organization also called for the establishment of an integrated national platform that collects timely and reliable data on accidents at work.

“The transparency shown in the review of data collection and analysis processes has led to the publication of specific recommendations that can serve as a roadmap for action,” said Max Tuñón, Head of the ILO Project Office in Qatar.

“We have to move seriously, because behind every statistic is an employee and his family.”

The Qatari Ministry of Labor added that “it will continue to work constructively with a wide range of experts and professionals, including the ILO, trade unions and international non-governmental organizations, to build on the progress made.”

“Labor reform is a complex task, and Qatar believes that solutions are best found through dialogue and commitment,” the ministry said in a statement.