Doha – A UN agency has granted Qatar even more time to address allegations of “forced labor” before deciding whether the country should be sanctioned.The International Labor Organization (ILO) decided to continue monitoring Qatar for human rights violations until November of this year. When it convenes in eight months time, it will revisit whether to open a Commission of Inquiry, its highest investigative mechanism.
According to those who attended this week’s meeting, about 18 governments weighed in on the decision. Speaking to Doha News yesterday, James Lynch, deputy director of Amnesty’s Global Issues Program, hailed the ILO’s decision.
He said it would keep the pressure on Qatar, as “half-hearted reforms” are not enough. For its part, Qatar has not publicly commented on the ILO proceedings. However, in a document it sent to the UN agency last month, officials outlined various pieces of legislation aimed at safeguarding workers.
This includes the new labor reforms, the Wage Protection System (WPS) and a draft law protecting house help. It also pledged to increase the number of inspectors on construction sites, establish a complaint hotline for abused expats and conduct a study to gain insight into the conditions and sentiments of blue-collar workers in Qatar.
Doha News: https://medium.com/dohanews/qatar-gets-until-november-to-improve-its-human-rights-record-af4509951fc6#.z6ufyksbk
