The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has hosted two workshops aimed at providing stadium contractors and sub-contractors with an in-depth outline of the requirements contained in the latest edition of the SC’s Workers’ Welfare Standards (WWS).

The workshops, held separately for contractors and sub-contractors, were held over the past two weeks.

They were organised by the Workers Welfare Unit (WWU) at the SC office, and aimed to inform the contractors and sub-contractors about all elements of the revised edition of the WWS, and their obligation in ensuring they are implemented correctly.  

The participants were requested to ensure that all elements of the revised edition of the WWS are embedded into their contractual relationships right down the supply chain including with recruitment agencies.  

WWS are a set of enforceable principles and regulations, drawing on the Labour Law of Qatar and International Labour Law, and are incorporated into all contracts for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"The vision of the Workers Welfare Unit is to deliver an outstanding 2022 FIFA World Cup by following best practices in promoting workers welfare and supporting the human and social development of Qatar," Mahmoud Qutub, Head of Workers Welfare, told the participants during the workshop.  

The WWU gave detailed presentations with a focus on ethical recruitment of workers in their home countries, as well as their living and working conditions during their time in Qatar.

The contractors and sub-contractors were also briefed about the four-tier audit process, which is especially relevant following the appointment of Impactt Ltd as an External Monitor, acting as the third tier of auditing.

The other tiers comprise of monthly contractor self-audits, ad-hoc audits by the SC and inspections by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs.

The contractors and sub-contractors were invited to participate in discussions based on simulated situations during and after the presentations.

Key topics discussed included contractual enforcement issues concerning illegal payment of recruitment and processing fees by workers to recruiters, compliance with pre-recruitment medical tests at Gulf Approved Medical Centres Association institutions, and illegal retention of workers’ passports by employers.   

A total of 14 companies attended the contractors’ workshop with 26 individuals holding positions of responsibility for their workforce present on the occasion.

The sub-contractors workshop focused on the companies operating on the Khalifa International Stadium site.

In all, 22 companies were represented, covering 75% of the headcount of the sub-contracted workforce on the stadium site.

Following the completion of the workshops, Qutub told www.sc.qa: "We are proud to provide our contractors and sub-contractors with training on the revised version of the SC's Workers Welfare Standards. The purpose of this training is to familiarise them with our requirements and make them aware of their obligations.

"The Standards represent best practice for the welfare of workers in the construction industry, and raising awareness of the Standards is a top priority.

"We are breaking new ground by directly engaging contractors and sub-contractors working on SC projects regarding the revised version of the Standards, while also demonstrating to them that the SC takes its responsibility to protect its workers very seriously.

"The SC will continue working very closely with companies moving forward to ensure adherence to the Standards, and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the welfare of SC workers."