Local engagement on labour issues
Initiative description: Engaging with entities responsible for the construction of and provision of services for infrastructure that is not being developed directly for the FIFA World Cup™, but will be used during the tournament, including transport systems, roads, ports, utilities and hotels. This will involve seeking to create incentives and exchange knowledge and best practices to promote fair recruitment practices and decent working and living conditions for their workers and supply chains in Qatar, including the provision of grievance and remedy mechanisms for workers who feel that their rights are adversely impacted. This will also encompass leveraging existing platforms for engagement, such as the Karama initiative, as well as developing new platforms as needed.
As part of its scope, the SC engages with entities responsible for the construction and provision of services for infrastructure that is not being developed directly for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, but which will be used during the tournament, such as transport systems, roads, ports, utilities and hotels. This involves creating incentives and exchanging knowledge and best practices to promote fair recruitment practices and decent working and living conditions for workers and supply chains in Qatar.
The SC is part of two key Hospitality Working Groups that were established to drive collaborations with hotel operators and develop best practices for this sector. The Hospitality Joint Working Group, comprising of Qatar’s Ministry of Labour, the SC, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), has developed a sector-wide guidance tool for for promoting fair recruitment and employment for hotels in Qatar. The tool was launched in September 2020. The SC is also a member of the Strategic Dialogue Group that includes other national and international stakeholders with direct interest in this sector, working collectively towards addressing sector-specific challenges.
Furthermore, the SC has intensified the engagement process with Mowasalat, the main transport provider in Qatar, to support its labour rights systems. This includes carrying out quarterly audits and inspections as well as due diligence of recruitment agencies. The SC has also extended its advisory role to other key stakeholders including Accor and Match Hospitality, as well as FIFA and its Commercial Affiliates and Member Associations.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the SC, Q22 and the National Human Rights Committee in February 2021. Under this agreement, the three entities collaborate in areas such as awareness raising, capacity building, technical assistance, and the prevention and remediation of human rights impacts.