NHRC against publishing photos of expatriates

Dracula
By Dracula

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) does not approve of the way in which photographs of expatriate workers are displayed in newspapers by their employers when they are either leaving for good or on long vacations.

The photographs with notes asking people to file claims (if any) against the departing workers hurt human dignity and their professional reputation, says a senior NHRC official.

Legal advisor Mohamed Fuwad told Al Sharq in an interview the rights panel will soon be contacting media organisations and the authorities concerned in a bid to help curb this practice.

“Photographs with notes are published in local newspapers not only of those expatriate workers who are leaving for food but often of those as well who are proceeding on long holidays,” he said.

The official lauded the Minister of State for Interior Affairs and said that many requests from low-income workers for sponsorship change were forwarded by the NHRC to him and in the cases where employers were found to have been unfair, the requests had been granted. “By doing this, he (the minister) has shown how the new sponsorship law can be implemented in its spirit,” said Mohamed Fuwad.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&sub...

By ummjake• 14 Oct 2009 21:10
ummjake

done something wrong...because it basically looks like a wanted poster and they're asking people if they have any claims against them.

They seem to have no problem continuing with this rude habit, yet they refuse to identify by name local companies or individuals who are alleged to have committed a real crime (non-payment of wages, etc.).

Funny double standard...

"Marriage is a wonderful institution...but who wants to live in an institution?" -- Groucho Marx

By Dracula• 14 Oct 2009 20:50
Dracula

According to the information accessed through the NHRC website, the committee thinks there is a genuine need for a ban on such advertisements. “Ads announcing termination of services, layoff or departure from Qatar for forever in local newspapers accompanied by a photograph of the expatriate in question are a form of disrespect to an individual that violates his right to dignity. Such an ad published along with the photograph creates a negative image of the person concerned in the minds of readers.

This is a demeaning act that could hurt one’s reputation in society, affect his/her professional life and career besides lowering their dignity,” the website content says. There is also mention of the ads about the availability of domestic labour, which is also a demeaning practice which not only lowers human dignity but also turns human, by implication, into a commodity to be traded. This too is a gross violation of one’s human right to live with dignity and respect.

Stressing on the universally accepted fact that human beings are not a commodity which can be traded, the NHRC report says, “Human dignity and respect for humans are something guaranteed by the human race’s destiny as the highest form of life in the universe.” It may be noted that the NHRC move follows a heated debate on the subject raised during a talk on the local press’ role vis-à-vis human rights issues which was part of the workshop for journalists organised jointly by the NHRC and Dar al Sharq Centre for Training and Information on Human Rights.

Qatar Tribune, 2009

By anonymous• 9 Oct 2009 00:26
anonymous

This is exactly the kind of thing I was saying to Mira earlier about the quality of local print media:

“Photographs with notes are published in local newspapers not only of those expatriate workers who are leaving for food but often of those as well who are proceeding on long holidays”

I don't think they are referring to the issue of non-payment of salaries and the failure to pay a living wage! :-P

 

 

 

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

By tHe-sMasHer• 9 Oct 2009 00:03
tHe-sMasHer

why humiliating,do u ppl look like ogres or wat??i never heard any political or a showbiz icon expressing as such aftr their pictures being published in newspapers..;)

By themans• 8 Oct 2009 23:46
themans

i had been to through that situation last year .its realy humilating.

By Dracula• 8 Oct 2009 18:09
Dracula

photo + Qatar ID number too

...embarrassing...

By Dracula• 8 Oct 2009 18:06
Dracula

"brighter side of qatar"

nice said,shanawazt

By anonymous• 8 Oct 2009 17:58
anonymous

finally we will get to see the brighter side of qatar

------------------------------------------------------

ya ib-nata qaiseen inna aba kuma

ked qutila fa qatiloho lana kuma

By britexpat• 8 Oct 2009 17:57
britexpat

"bid to help curb this practice".....

So, it'll be a voluntary decision... Good Luck :O)

By Dracula• 8 Oct 2009 17:54
Dracula

LOL, Novi..this is not true!

By novita77• 8 Oct 2009 16:12
novita77

they dont say anything when the employer not paying the worker's wages though ....

By Victory_278692• 8 Oct 2009 16:11
Victory_278692

working effectively.....sue for defamation case against the law makers!!!

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