Although Qatar had repeatedly expressed commitment to amend labor laws and scrap the Kafala (sponsorship) system, the visiting Qatari minister gave no hint of the changes occuring anytime soon.

During a meeting with his Nepali counterpart, Tek Bahadur Gurung, on Sunday, Qatari Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Dr Abdulla Bin Salih Al Khulaifi, only talked about welfare of the migrant workers, including Nepalis.

After a withering criticism of its labor practices internationally, the government of Qatar last year had announced that it would bring changes to its existing laws, particularly the Kafala system, and amend the exit permit system.

Investigations have revealed that Nepali migrant workers engaged in building the infrastructure for the upcoming 2022 World Cup football died at the rate of one person every two days in 2014.

Also, human rights defenders have pointed out the lack of proper accommodation for the workers; no payment for working overtime; and salary not in line with the contract paper as major issues that Qatari government must address.

However, Qatari Minister Khulaifi, who is on a four-day official visit to Nepal, said that welfare of all migrant workers, including Nepal, is his government's top priority.

Speaking at press conference organized to inform about the bilateral talks between the two countries, he said, "Labor rights and safety of workers are being looked through labor amendment," adding, "Workers are not supposed to pay anything to get work permit in Qatar. Our law requires paying the workers their air tickets and extra fees for recruitment."

He said that the agencies and people who don't abide by the country's law would be prosecuted. Any activities which are against the labor laws will not be tolerated.

Likewise, speaking at the press meet, State minister for Labor Tek Bahadur Gururg said, "It is very important that our workers are provided with good healthcare services so that they don't die unnatural death."

Minister Gurung even added that both countries have agreed to strongly monitor unscrupulous manpower agencies and "middlemen" so that workers can go to work in Qatar at zero cost.

Issues like life and health insurance facilities for Nepali workers, prior training for them and recruitment of skilled manpower, among others, were major agendas of the meeting.

Upon the urging of Nepal government, Minister Khulaifi agreed to establish an electronic linkage between two ministries through which all information on workers can be shared.

Qatar plans to take in up to 1,00,000 additional international migrant workers to build infrastructure for the upcoming world cup.

It has been reported that there are around 1.2 million migrant workers in Qatar, 16 percent of them from Nepal. According to government data, there are more than 4,00,000 Nepali migrant workers in Qatar who are building a 90,000-seater stadium under $45bn worth city for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022.

Qatar is the third largest destination country for Nepali migrant workers.

Published on: 6 April 2015 | Republica