Enhancing cooperation between Qatar Money and the International Labor Organization

The Labor Regulation Office of the Qatar Financial Center, one of the leading financial and commercial centers in the Middle East, in cooperation with the International Labor Organization office in the State of Qatar, organized a round table on strengthening adherence to decent work standards in supply chains by adopting sustainable procurement practices.
The round table included a group of speakers from the International Labor Organization and the Qatar Financial Center, during which they discussed various aspects of the procurement process, and highlighted the importance of implementing checklists to verify the extent to which suppliers adhere to the required work standards. The round table also hosted representatives of the Qatar Financial Center companies, during which they talked about their best practices and their valuable insights into providing a positive and fair work environment in their companies’ supply chains.
In her intervention during the event, Ms. Luigia Engiani, Commissioner of the Labor Regulatory Office at the Qatar Financial Center, said: “Promoting the concept of decent work for all is one of the most important core values ​​of the Qatar Financial Center. We hope that by sharing some of the successful experiences that the Qatar Financial Center has carried out to enhance compliance with decent work standards in its supply chain, we hope to provide concrete examples that other companies in various sectors can benefit from. The observations and comments of the participants in the round table confirm the need to develop a common set of standards for reviewing the mechanism of procurement processes.
The ILO office in Qatar cooperates with the Ministry of Labor and other government institutions to enhance the commitment of companies and institutions in various sectors of the country to implement the labor law and its legislation. This event represents the commitment of the Labor Standards Office and the Qatar Financial Center to joint responsibility and support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, environmental, social and corporate governance practices and the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
For his part, Mr. Max Tonon, Director of the International Labor Organization in Qatar, said: “It is encouraging to see the extent to which the Qatar Financial Center and its subsidiaries are aware of the importance of reviewing the procedures followed in their procurement operations. By assessing decent work standards when awarding contracts to suppliers, companies can contribute to improving working conditions among working groups that may be more vulnerable to exploitation and rights violations, including security and guard personnel, cleaners and others. Playing this role is essential and complementary to the government’s responsibility in applying labor laws.
Ms. Nafisa Al-Akhwa, Operations Technical Officer at the ILO Qatar office, added: “With more and more companies relying on subcontractors, conducting procurement assessments has become a shared responsibility that promotes compliance with labor laws and ensures equal opportunities for sustainable projects in Qatar. The International Labor Organization has the appropriate tools and expertise that qualify it to serve in this aspect and is fully prepared to assist companies.
Since its establishment in 2015, the QFC Labor Regulation Office has been committed to promoting international labor standards among the various members of the QFC business community, by launching a variety of initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting healthy, safe, sound and balanced working conditions. With the aim of building a competitive labor market based on building the human being.