labour camps inspections
The Labour Department is keeping a strict watch on labour camps all over the country to make sure they comply with health and safety regulations in respect of workers.
The department conducted 441 surprise raids on labour camps over the past three months and issued stern warnings to at least seven of them to improve the living conditions or face the music. A senior official from the occupational safety division of the Labour Department told The Peninsula that 14 of the raided labour lodgings were under investigation.
Hazim Mohamed said they sometimes entered labour camps and were shocked to see as many as 20 beds in a single, small room. “This is against the labour law of Qatar,” he said. He said his division carried out routine checks and also conducted surprise raids on labour camps to see the living conditions for workers. During the 441 raids, 79 percent of the labour camps were found to be perfect, he said.
Citing statistics, Mohamed said there were 364 companies in the country that employed more than 1,000 workers. According to him, labour lodgings that house more than 1,000 workers are required by law to maintain a small clinic within the camp premises to deal with emergencies. Camps that have 500 workers or more must have a nurse and a doctor working full time. Camps with 100 or more workers are required to employ a nurse. Companies have to comply with the above health and safety regulations in respect of workers, else they are not given permits. Many cases of violations which are serious are referred to the courts by the Labour Department, said Mohamed.
“We allow a company’s owner some time to correct the situation at his labour camp, but if he does not comply with the law, legal action is taken,” he added.
source peninsula
The department conducted 441 surprise raids on labour camps over the past three months and issued stern warnings to at least seven of them to improve the living conditions or face the music. A senior official from the occupational safety division of the Labour Department told The Peninsula that 14 of the raided labour lodgings were under investigation.
Hazim Mohamed said they sometimes entered labour camps and were shocked to see as many as 20 beds in a single, small room. “This is against the labour law of Qatar,” he said. He said his division carried out routine checks and also conducted surprise raids on labour camps to see the living conditions for workers. During the 441 raids, 79 percent of the labour camps were found to be perfect, he said.
Citing statistics, Mohamed said there were 364 companies in the country that employed more than 1,000 workers. According to him, labour lodgings that house more than 1,000 workers are required by law to maintain a small clinic within the camp premises to deal with emergencies. Camps that have 500 workers or more must have a nurse and a doctor working full time. Camps with 100 or more workers are required to employ a nurse. Companies have to comply with the above health and safety regulations in respect of workers, else they are not given permits. Many cases of violations which are serious are referred to the courts by the Labour Department, said Mohamed.
“We allow a company’s owner some time to correct the situation at his labour camp, but if he does not comply with the law, legal action is taken,” he added.
source peninsula
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