Dar es Salaam:The State of Qatar has successfully launched the Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility, held on October 5-6 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The event was conducted under the theme "From Commitment to Action: Advancing Fair and Sustainable Labour Mobility between Africa and GCC Countries."
According to Qatar News Agency, the dialogue was attended by prominent figures including Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, standing in for Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania. Ministers of Labour from over 33 countries across the GCC, Africa, and the Arab region participated, alongside representatives from the African Union Commission, International Labour Organization, Arab Labour Organization, and International Organization for Migration.
Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Qatar's Minister of Labour, expressed gratitude to Tanzania for hosting the event and acknowledged the contributions of various international organizations in organizing the dialogue. In his remarks, Dr. Al Marri emphasized the significance of the dialogue as a platform for countries of origin and destination to collaborate on labour mobility, addressing challenges and ensuring the protection of workers' rights.
The second edition of the Doha Dialogue focused on the shift from establishing shared principles to implementing and measuring their effectiveness. Key areas of focus included recruitment processes, transparency in employment contracts, wage protection, skill development pathways, and ensuring workers' access to protection and justice.
Qatar highlighted its legislative reforms in the labour sector, such as the abolition of the exit permit and No-Objection Certificate requirements, the introduction of a minimum wage, and the establishment of Labour Dispute Settlement Committees. Dr. Al Marri underscored the importance of effective implementation and international cooperation to enhance these reforms.
The dialogue aimed to foster bilateral labour agreements and institutional cooperation, with Qatar looking forward to the practical application of these agreements while respecting national laws and upholding workers' rights. Dr. Al Marri expressed optimism about reaching a balanced declaration that aligns with the Doha Declaration of 2024 and advances the dialogue's objectives.
As the event concluded, Dr. Al Marri highlighted Qatar's ongoing commitment to improving wage protection, labour justice, and recruitment transparency. He reaffirmed Qatar's collaboration with GCC countries, Jordan, Lebanon, African nations, and international organizations to support the dialogue's goals and serve the interests of all participating countries.