The College of Law at Qatar University was selected as the best worker in workers’ welfare of the year 2020, in a ceremony under the auspices of The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, entitled “Workers’ welfare is a moral duty and legal obligation.” This selection was made by the Workers Welfare Awards Committee head Mr. Mohammed bin Tawar Al-Kuwari, Vice-President of Qatar Chamber, a committee launched by Dar Al-Sharq about five years ago
The committee included representative members of the National Human rights committee.
The committee included representatives of the National Human Rights Committee, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the Community Police, the Labor Inspection Department at the Ministry of Administrative Development and Labor and Social Affairs, Public Relations at the Public Works Authority, and a number of professors from Qatar University. The committee presented honorary awards for the best company in worker welfare during the Corona pandemic, best company in worker accommodation, best company in occupational safety and health, best worker of the year 2020, and best personality in worker welfare for the year 2020. Dr. Khaled bin Saleh Al-Shammari, Assistant Dean, received For Academic Affairs in the College of Law College Award.
The Committee commended the efforts made by the Legal Clinic at the College of Law in providing legal assistance to vulnerable groups, especially migrant workers, in various labor cases, which include breaching the terms and conditions stipulated in work contracts, especially those related to wages and end-of-service benefits, and other obligations imposed on the employer. The legal clinic is also preoccupied with criminal and civil cases, including the claim for the refund of sums that were paid before the emergence of the Corona pandemic and became unlawfully obtained, and issues related to the payment of bank loans, sales and lease contracts and commercial partnership, as well as personal status issues, especially those related to marriage and alimony Marriage, child support and domestic violence.
The committee commended the research project carried out by students of the Faculty of Law in the fall 2020 semester, which dealt with the legal effects of the Corona pandemic on contractual obligations in employment contracts, in partnership with thirty legal clinics in universities from twenty countries: Spain, India, the United States, South Africa, Croatia, Nigeria, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Malawi, Oman, Kuwait, Tunisia, Canada, Romania, Turkey and Qatar. The committee reviewed the final report, which included the results of the research project and the recommendations it reached.
The committee also referred to the role of the College of Law at Qatar University in enriching research related to labor and workers issues, and raising awareness of their rights under the Qatari legislative system, which includes Labor Law No. (14) of 2004, Law of Entry, Exit and Residence of Expatriates No. 21 of 2015 and the amendments thereto. Domestic Workers Law No. (15) of 2017, Anti-Human Trafficking Law No. 15 of 2011, and legislative developments for 2020, including the abolition of the sponsorship system and setting the minimum wage for workers.