Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has confirmed its continued support to protecting the rights of migrant workers in Qatar, as platinum sponsor of the third annual conference on Labour Rights Protection, to be held on May 1 to mark International Workers Day.
Following two successful editions in 2014 and 2015, the third annual conference, under the theme ‘Paramount Reforms,’ will highlight the importance of cancelling the Kafala system and implementation of more stringent practices and measures to ensure the rights of workers are respected and protected.
The conference will also present case studies on best practices from Qatar and the region, and discuss reports conducted by private companies in their efforts to safeguard labour rights and provide an improved situation for migrant workers in Qatar.
Held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, the daylong conference will include two active sessions and conclude with the launch of the latest ‘White Book’ that highlights the major achievements and challenges for further development and advancement of the country’s blue collar community. The event will also honour private and public institutions that have made significant contributions in this field.  
Abdulla Hassan al-Mehshadi, CEO, Msheireb Properties, said the company pays a lot of importance to ensuring the overall well-being and safety of workers who are helping transform Qatar and strongly believe that dignified working and living conditions are essential to unlocking true human potential and development.
“At, Msheireb Properties, we carefully and constantly monitor the issue of human rights and all contractors assigned to the project must abide by the regulations set out in our Migrant Workers’ Welfare Charter, in addition to Qatar’s own labour laws. We are confident that the outcomes from the conference will further support the advancement of the country’s migrant workforce and help us all make better informed decisions.”
The event will bring together local government officials, representatives of international and local rights organisations and decision makers from private companies to discuss and debate this pertinent issue and develop policies and recommendations that will benefit the large migrant workforce and assist with sustained growth and development of Qatar.
Key topics to be discussed during the conference include the role of the government in protecting worker rights and new reforms implemented to improve their conditions, responsibilities of operating companies to safeguard worker interests, vision and mission of human rights and labour organisations for enhancing work relationships, sharing best practices from responsible organisations in Qatar and the relevance of local laws and international standards amongst others.