Doha: Qatar said Thursday it will introduce a major labour law reform to ensure thousands of workers building venues for the 2022 World Cup are paid on time, after complaints by rights groups.
The changes by the future hosts of football’s biggest tournament, approved by Qatar’s Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, will see workers get paid at least once a month and in some cases every fortnight.
The move could head off some criticism of Qatar which has come under mounting international pressure to improve conditions for migrant labourers working on projects for the World Cup.
The announcement comes before the international spotlight is bound to fall on Qatar again as FIFA officials visit Doha early next week to finalise a date for the controversial tournament.
Under the proposal, wages will be paid through direct bank transfers which should, in theory, make it easier to track those employers that do not comply with the new law.
It is not yet clear when the reforms will be introduced but employers will have six months to implement them.
If they do not, they could face up to one month in prison as well as a fine of up to 6,000 Qatari Riyals ($1,650, 1,440 euros).
Last November, Amnesty International accused the government in Doha of not doing enough on the issue of non-payment despite intense scrutiny after Qatar was the World Cup.
And earlier this year, lack of progress on the issue was again highlighted, this time by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
HRW’s Qatar researcher, Nicholas McGeehan gave a cautious welcome to the changes announced in Doha.
“Of course it’s good,” he told AFP. “It is a positive step as long as it is properly enforced.”
He said the reform would also impact on a “very substantial number of workers” across the Qatari economy, not just those in construction.
