Qatar has hired a reputed international law firm to carry out an independent review of the recent allegations of forced labour in the country. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs said yesterday it has commissioned DLA Piper, a leading international law firm, to undertake an independent review of the allegations. “The firm has been asked to conduct a review of the accusations and report on their veracity to the Ministry,” Adviser (International Relations) at the Ministry said. Ali Ahmed Al Kholeifi told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that once the law firm submits its report, the Ministry would decide on an appropriate course of action. “Qatar takes its international obligations very seriously,” Kholeifi said. “Recently, there have been a number of allegations of failure to enforce certain international conventions on the treatment of workers, most notably, the Convention on Forced Labor. The official was referring to the UN International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Forced Labor Qatar signed in 2007. According to the ILO, forced labour includes people coerced into jobs which they cannot leave, trapped in debt bondage, trafficked for sexual exploitation and even born into slavery. It covers workers in the construction and domestic sectors. Legal circles here said the sponsorship system in Qatar is not akin to forced labour because workers who come here sign contracts and can change jobs, though with employers’ consent. “Forced labour is when you force someone to work against his or her will,” said a lawyer, requesting anonymity. Diplomatic circles said Qatar has made the right move by appointing a global law firm to probe the allegations. “It shows Qatar has taken the criticism seriously and wants that such accusations are not repeated in future. It is a positive development considering that major development projects are being launched here to host the 2022 FIFA event,” said an Asian diplomat. He said that honestly speaking the labour situation in Qatar isn’t alarming as the system is responsive. “You have so many mechanisms to seek redress in a labour dispute or a worker’s woes. There is the labor department, the National Human Rights Committee and finally, the foreign office. He said the Nepalese ambassador in whose name the controversy was created by sections of the western media had already denied those comments. “However, if the outcome of the unfortunate row is positive we would welcome it,” said the diplomat. Contacted for comment on the labour ministry appointing a law firm to review the allegations, a senior NHRC official said he and his organisation would not like to be dragged into the row. “It’s a sensitive issue and we don’t want to get involved,” said the official. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/255494-qatar-appoints-law-firm-for-labour-review-.html

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