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Regarding the addition of interviews with workers to the inspection procedures, this measure is already in force. Article 11, paragraph 4 of Ministerial Decree 13/2005 on the regulation of labor inspection activities and measures states, “Question the employer or his representative or the worker, alone in the presence of witnesses, about any topic related to the application of the provisions of the labor law and its implementing decrees, in order to determine the extent of compliance with conditions mandated in these statutes.” Paragraph 5 of the same article states, “Discuss the best means with employers and workers, alone or together, to facilitate the application of the provisions of the law and its implementing decrees, and to alleviate the difficulties precluding this, especially regarding ignorance of these provisions.” What steps do labor inspectors take when they discover violations? Specifically, what steps do inspectors take when they discover violations of housing conditions, particularly when the housing is unsafe and unfit? What measures are followed by inspectors regarding companies that violate the law or labor regulations? Both the labor law (Law 14/2004) and Ministerial Decree 13/2005 on the operation of labor inspection regulate the procedures the inspector must follow pursuant to the authority vested in him by law as follows: If the labor inspector discovers any violation, he takes the following steps: 1. Advises and directs the employer or his representative how to rectify the violation. 2. Warns the employer to rectify the violation and specifies the type of violation and the period in which he is required to rectify it, with a period ranging from two weeks to one month depending on the number and nature of violations and the number of workers affected. 3. Files reports documenting violations and submits them to the directorate for the appropriate action. 113 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JUNE 2012
4. Asks the employer or his representative the reason for the violation that he witnessed and faithfully records the response in the file. 5. Clearly explains the violation, mentioning the compliance articles and the penalty. 6. States the name and number of workers affected by any previous violations committed by the employer if the conditions warrant it. 7. Notes the dates of the initial visit, the warning of the violation, and the reinspection. In the case of a grave violation that may cause imminent or possible harm to the staff or worker safety, the inspector writes up the violation and submits it to the directorate for immediate action, which may involve the partial or entire closure of the facility, or the suspension of the use of certain machinery or equipment. The suspension or closure order shall be issued by the Minister of Labor pursuant to the recommendation of the Inspection Directorate. Regarding housing violations, the same measures are taken. If the housing is unsafe, swift measures are taking to force the employer to close the housing and replace it with safe housing, without delay or excuse. Given that the provision of adequate housing is linked to permits to recruit workers from abroad, the company or institution that does not provide housing in advance is not given a license to recruit workers from abroad. This is coordinated by the Permanent Recruitment Committee, the Employment Directorate, and the Labor Inspection Directorate. The company is inspected before it is granted a license to recruit workers to ensure that it is prepared to provide adequate housing to workers upon their arrival in Doha. How do inspectors choose the companies subject to inspection? If workers send a complaint to the complaints department in the Ministry of Labor, does the Ministry investigate to ensure that other employees at the same company are not experiencing the same problems? Inspections are carried out based on the plans of the Inspection Directorate to inspect all companies and institutions subject to the labor law, including both periodic and surprise BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 114
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H U M A N R I G H T S W A T C H Bui
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Copyright © 2012 Human Rights Watc
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To Construction, Labor-Supply, and
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Based on interviews with 73 migrant
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employers to ensure potable water,
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whether they forfeit their rights i
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Necessary Steps Qatar’s Governmen
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secretary-general of FIFA, stated t
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ather than directly by the companie
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(above) Massive construction projec
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(above) A migrant construction work
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Hallway lights illuminate a worker
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20 Building a better world cup
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This Bangladeshi migrant worker tol
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Migrant workers housed in Doha’s
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26 Building a better world cup
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Methodology Human Rights Watch cond
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I. Background Qatar, a Gulf country
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Meanwhile, migrant workers’ labor
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labor is temporary. Once their job
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“mandatory contract language and
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of 2004 set a maximum prison term o
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However, the lack of official compl
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Even on its face, the Labor Law lac
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The Sponsorship Law requires reside
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Qatar has not ratified conventions
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if they occur. 90 Former UN Special
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usiness with subcontractors, suppli
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or who have learned of job opportun
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written agreements into real, effec
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offered himself voluntarily.” 114
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after their arrival), or penalizes
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The New Doha International Airport
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Page 81 and 82: While their response also states th
Page 83 and 84: Qatar’s labor ministry has taken
Page 85 and 86: Without available translators or in
Page 87 and 88: would terminate the employment rela
Page 89 and 90: Qatar’s Sponsorship Law states th
Page 91 and 92: etween January 2009 and September 2
Page 93 and 94: notarized undertakings in workers
Page 95 and 96: • Ensure that courts reviewing la
Page 97 and 98: • Finance a public awareness camp
Page 99 and 100: Acknowledgements This report was re
Page 101 and 102: Qatar from charging workers fees, b
Page 103 and 104: interviewed for this report said th
Page 105 and 106: Qatar, local employers and recruitm
Page 107 and 108: Request for Information Human Right
Page 109 and 110: Sponsorship-related problems: • A
Page 111 and 112: The administration has received no
Page 113 and 114: Regarding healthcare, it is well kn
Page 115 and 116: Qatari laws do not permit charging
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Page 123 and 124: Regarding the second question, on t
Page 125 and 126: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 350 Fifth Avenue
Page 127 and 128: process of writing to relevant comp
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Page 131 and 132: BUILDING A BETTER WORLD CUP 126
Page 133 and 134: World Cup. We have enclosed a summa
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Page 137 and 138: CH2M HILL Response to Human Rights
Page 139 and 140: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 350 Fifth Avenue
Page 141 and 142: We would like to take this opportun
Page 143 and 144: Aspire Logistics Response to Human
Page 147 and 148: construction industry as a whole an
Page 149 and 150: • show that you have taken all po
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