Qatar is going to prepare historic labour reform

Qatar on Tuesday officially launches one of its most "significant" labour reforms to guarantee migrant workers' wages, but rights groups are concerned over implementation of the new regulations.
The Wage Protection System (WPS) aims to ensure that migrant labourers, many working on 2022 World Cup-related projects, will finally receive their pay on time. Under the new system, workers will be paid either twice a month or monthly, and the wages electronically transferred direct to their bank accounts.
Failure to pay salaries on time, especially for blue collar workers, has been one of the biggest complaints voiced by rights groups against companies in the energy-rich Gulf state. A 2013 academic study, "Portrait of Low-Income Migrants in Contemporary Qatar," found that around a fifth of migrant workers were "sometimes, rarely or never" paid on time.
On August 18, a six-month grace period for businesses to ready for the electronic payment system expires. From that date, companies which fail to pay staff on time could face fines of up to 6,000 Qatari riyals ($1,650/1,485 euros), be banned from recruiting new staff, and bosses potentially sent to jail. Inspection teams will monitor the new system and identify any firms not complying with the regulations.
The WPS is being overseen by the labour ministry, which has previously pointed to its introduction as proof of Qatar's commitment to labour reform. In May, the ministry cited the WPS as an example of the "significant changes" being introduced in response to furious criticism of its labour practices since the controversial decision to allow Qatar to host football's biggest tournament.
Amnesty International, which has previously criticised Qatar for its "slow" pace of reform, said the introduction of the WPS was "welcome". "It's a positive step in principle," said Amnesty's Gulf migrant rights researcher, Mustafa Qadri.
However, Amnesty still has concerns about what will actually happen in practice following the deadline on Tuesday. It has called on Doha not to make any last-minute concessions to business or extend the grace period and also to ensure the WPS will be rigorously enforced.
"We shouldn't see August 18 as some sort of panacea, now we have the law, how will it be enforced? The government now has a benchmark it can apply to business. The government should effectively enforce this law," added Qadri. "We shouldn't see August 18 as a deadline but a new beginning for Qatar."
Doha has said it backs "effective and sustainable change" and says the WPS, like Qatar's promise of accommodation improvements for 250,000 workers, demonstrates a commitment to this end. But reform of the WPS only adds to the calls for change elsewhere, specifically the biggest reform of all, scrapping of the controversial "kafala" system, which limits the movement of foreign workers.
Qadri called "kafala" the "elephant in the room" and said the changes being introduced on August 18 should open the door to further reforms. He referred specifically to the ending of the controversial kafala system which has been likened by some critics to modern-day slavery.
Qatar has pledged by the end of 2015 to abolish the system under which employers retain the passports of workers, who are not allowed to change jobs.

ITUC are involved in the campaign against FIFA? What interest has the union ?

On 16 July we have communicated real concerns with respect to ties ITUC - the International Trade Union Confederation - and the interchanges organization purpose.com that considers as a real part of its reference sections association "Walk Free". "Walk Free" that, before the vote that affirmed Blatter as the head of FIFA, assaulted the Swiss pioneer advancing the bid of his adversary, Prince Hussein Bin. Article ipotizzavamo a favored relationship between the risky and maybe purpose.com and the ITUC; specifically, we put accentuation on conceivable undeclared American impedance in the legislative issues of the International Trade Union Confederation. Point by point cutting weight, though the ITUC, just in Qatar, he let out full names of representatives who have attempted to uncover the working conditions in power in the nation, putting them unmistakably in risk.

It is in this manner with some astonish that we discovered a couple of days back, the General Secretary of the ITUC, Ms Sharan Burrows, has retweeted a quote from our article: "The American association strolls free (whose goal is to change the supposition of the masses) underpins the ITUC Sharan Burrow and with regards to American intrigues in Qatar." In doing as such Mrs. Tunnels affirmed that the ITUC is included in a media crusade against Qatar and FIFA, for the benefit of the US government. It can't make deliberation of the way that Qatar has seen property inspected football in 2022 with two votes distinction harm exactly the United States. In light of the above it appears that the dissentions about the working states of transients in Qatar have turned into the affection for standard records that go past the ordinary obligations of an exchange union. Furthermore, this is not pleasant.

What interest has the union?

On 16 July we have expressed legitimate concerns regarding ties ITUC - the International Trade Union Confederation - and the communications company purpose.com that counts among its appendices organization "Walk Free". "Walk Free" that, before the vote that confirmed Blatter as the head of FIFA, attacked the Swiss leader promoting the candidacy of his rival, Prince Hussein Bin. Article ipotizzavamo a privileged relationship between the dangerous and perhaps purpose.com and the ITUC; in particular, we put emphasis on possible undeclared American interference in the politics of the International Trade Union Confederation. Detailed cutting weight, whereas the ITUC, just in Qatar, he let out full names of employees who have worked to reveal the working conditions in force in the country, putting them clearly in danger.

It is therefore with some surprise that we found out a few days ago, the General Secretary of the ITUC, Ms Sharan Burrows, has retweeted a quote from our article: "The American organization walks free (whose objective is to change the opinion of the masses) supports the ITUC Sharan Burrow and in defense of American interests in Qatar.” In doing so Mrs. Burrows confirmed that the ITUC is involved in a media campaign against Qatar and FIFA, on behalf of the US government. It cannot make abstraction of the fact that Qatar has seen attribute sampled football in 2022 with two votes difference damage precisely the United States. In light of the above it seems that the complaints about the working conditions of migrants in Qatar have become the pretext for regular accounts that go beyond the normal duties of a trade union. And this is not nice.

source: http://www.20min.ch

Qatar Airways’ aggressively cheap fares are chasing SIA out of the lucrative European market

 

Load factors to Europe fell for 3 straight months.
Singapore Airlines is bearing the brunt of Qatar Airways’ aggressive capacity expansion in the region, a report by UOB Kay Hian revealed.
SIA’s operating statistics June operating statistics showed that overall passenger load factor slipped by 1.6 points last month. PLF to Europe showed the largest contraction with a decline of 4.5 points.
SIA attributed the decline to weak demand and intensifying competitive pressures. According to UOB Kay Hian, Qatar Airways’ additional capacity out of Singapore and its aggressively cheap fares may be a key reason behind SIA’s weak statistics.
“June’s weak loads to Europe suggest that Qatar’s capacity increase could be a reason for the drop in loads to the region, although Greece’s problems could also have contributed to the drop. Europe is a key market for SIA, accounting for 28% of SIA’s (parent airline) capacity and is also a key market for business travel,” said the report.
Qatar Airways rolled out its new Airbus A350 aircraft in May, part of a slew of measures to increase market share in Singapore.
“Qatar Airways likely gunning for a share of the business class segment. Current promotional fares to five European cities are at least 30% cheaper than that of SIA. Qatar Airway’s ultimate goal appears to be a slice of SIA’s high-yielding business class as the increased capacity will add additional 448 weekly business class seats to Europe, via Doha. We estimate that the increase in business class capacity will approximate 11-14% of SIA’s business class capacity to Europe,” the report noted

ITUC seems to be over concerned for Qatar’s migrants !! Moves suspicious in Qatar?

 

DOHA. The Conference international trade union which has interests in Qatar?
In 2006, the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the “World Confederation of Labour”, comes the “International Trade Union Confederation” (ITUC), which represents 175 million workers in 311 organizations spread in 155 countries. Because of the poor conditions faced by workers who work in the preparation of infrastructure for the World Cup the ITUC has become known for his complaints against FIFA, the organization of the World Cup and the airline of the country Arabic.
After the arrests took place in Zurich during the last congress of FIFA, the ITUC, however, it was unexpectedly supported by an organization called Free Walk, which presents itself as an organization against slavery. On that occasion “Walk Free” attacked Sepp Blatter promoting the candidacy of his rival, Prince Hussein Bin. We all know how that turned out.
What few know is that Walk Free is an appendage of an American organization – which is the showcase website http://www.purpose.com – whose stated purpose is to “change the opinion to the masses.” The co-founder of the site, Jeremy Heimans, is Australian as is Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary present. The first, in 2011, at the World Economic Forum in Davos has been recognized as one of the 10 people in the world can change Internet and politics at the global level.
Whereas Jeremy Heimans has also been honored by the Ford Foundation (powerful American foundation) the question is not whether the ITUC is preparing to defend American interests, perhaps not declared. This in light of the fact that in one of his reports on working conditions in Qatar, the union has disclosed the names and photos of several workers who provided their information, objectively putting them in danger. One way to at least singular treat their sources for a union supported “by one of the 10 people in the world can change the policy of the planet.”
source: http://www.20min.ch/