NHRC calls for hike in wages

DOHA: Construction workers in Qatar are paid inadequately making it hard for them to cope with the living-costs prevailing here, a recent study by National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has found. More than 29 percent of the workers are given a meager wage below QR 800, without considering the inflation level and the risk associated with the job.

The sudden spur in infrastructural development projects in the country had increased the number of construction workers since 2004. However, unskilled labourers are the most suffering and their work burden often do not usually reflect upon the salary they earn, according to NHRC. The National Human Rights Committee’s (NHRC) study recommends raising the pay scale of the unskilled labourers in construction sector considering their living-costs, nature of work and the risks associated.

The survey conducted among 1,014 unskilled construction labourers was led by Dr Kaltham Ali Al Ghanem. The study showed that the monthly pay scale of 29.2 percent of the labourers was between QR500 and QR800, 18 percent of them received a salary less than QR1,100, 18.2 percent was paid less than QR1,400, 16.4 percent received less than 1,700 and 17.3 percent had a salary less than 2,000.

With the maximum wages being less than QR3,000, many find it hard to meet their expenses here itself, let alone bring their families here. All most all the labourers preferred to stay in the labour camps, though they complained lack of leisure time and entertainment. At least 43.7 percent of the respondents had to share lavatory, while 17.3 percent had no drinking-water in their accommodation and 10 percent had no access to air-conditioners. Majority of the respondents have to share their bed space also. While 10.3 percent of them had to share room with just one of two people, 37 percent had other three or four people with them. 30 percent respondents had to share their accommodation with five or six people and 22 percent had to accommodate more than six people in a room.

Shockingly, majority of the labourers had to work more than eight hours a day. Only 28.5 percent of the labourers have a work schedule of eight hours while 51.2 percent had to work nine to 10 hours a day. 17.4 percent of the labourers worked up to 12 hours while 2.9 percent had to work more than 12 hours. Only 11 percent of the respondents enjoyed a break of more than one hour and 46 percent had one hour resting time. However, 30 percent of the workers had merely half an our and 13 percent had less than half an hour of interval.

As for safety at work, 30 percent said they had no safety gears, while,only 5.5 percent had fire extinguisher at work site. Thought 80 percent of them had transportation provided by the company, 73 percent was not provided with food at site. Water, washrooms, rest-places and various necessities were not available for 16 to 30 percent of the labourers at their work-site.

Despite all the factors, 56.5 percent labourers were satisfied with work, though 68.3 had complained that the salary paid was not enough for the work.33.9 percent of the workers complained of delay in getting the salary.

NHRC study recommended to improve safety conditions in the workplace and stressed the employers to provide meals, drinking water and places for rest. It also called for checking on companies focusing on the provision of adequate accommodation facilities and medical services.

The officials urged for an increment in wages and stressed that any amendments in labour or sponsorship laws should be done considering the interest of both the employee and employer. Since most of these workers are uneducated, they are not aware of their rights. hence NHRC recommended having human rights awareness workshops for the workers.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/136805-nhrc-calls-for-hike-in-wag...