Qatar Chamber will launch next April a book chronicling the country’s achievements on occupation safety, the nodal body for business and trade in Qatar said today.
The Chamber will launch the book jointly with Sougha, an advertising, exhibitions and conferences company.
Companies excelling in occupational health and safety will receive an Award for Excellence at the book release event.
This award is set up to create competition, spur businesses and individuals to excel in health and safety in compliance with statutory standards, the Chamber said.
The categories of awards are ‘Best Safety Consultant’, ‘Safety Award for Best Contractor’ for large companies, ‘Best Contractor for medium-sized companies, and award for ‘Best Workers’ in safety.
Qatar Chamber Chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani said, “Qatar’s economic growth requires a large number of skilled workers. Their welfare is important since Qatar adheres to highest quality standards in production and delivery of services as per international labour standards.” The country’s on-going infrastructure development projects require a huge task force of workers. It is incumbent on the State to take care of workers and protect them, he said.
The government is well aware that work-related incidents and injuries cause huge losses to the global economy. The estimated costs of these these accidents and injuries is around 4% of the global GDP.
Qatar’s private sector has succeeded in applying occupational health and safety norms at workplace and workers’ housing, he said and added company owners are keen to implement Qatar’s Labour Law requirements in order to provide a healthy and professional work environment.
Qatar Chamber Chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani said the commitment of companies here has saved huge expenditure for potential awareness drives on occupational health and safety at workplace, and housing as per the law.
Awareness on promulgating statutory safety laws has increased significantly, he stressed. Setting up of the National Committee for Health and Safety has helped to raise awareness, he said.
“Qatar Chamber is sparing no effort to the help the government find formulas and appropriate regulations to protect workers in Qatar as well as all professions that require protection and safety of personnel from accidents at workplace,” said HE Sheikh Khalifa.
Qatar Chamber is proactively working to urge business owners and private companies to provide training and rehabilitation of workers, he said. “The Chamber is raising the level of awareness, education and commitment to safety and health at workplaces. A safe working environment would positively lead to successful productivity which will benefit the country,” he said.
Qatar Chamber is sponsoring the book release as part of its commitment to devise creative ideas, and he noted that occupational safety and health cannot be improved without working in tandem with a methodological and comprehensive national strategy.
This book release is an opportunity to reiterate Qatar’s welfare and concern for expatriate workers and to highlight it full commitment to their rights and to provide a decent standard of living.
“This book would serve as a cornerstone in building a society, which is a clear expression of the State’s will to promote occupational safety and health involving all the social partners who are keen to take great care of their responsibilities to maintain the safety and worker’s health in our beloved country as the real wealth of the country,” he said.
Qatar Chamber Chairman said the timing of the book release will be in conjunction with the celebration of the World Day for Occupational Safety and Health at work, which is observed April 28 every year.
On this day, all countries celebrate their achievements in safety and health management. “It will be a good opportunity for Qatar to show the achievements made by the country and national institutions,” he said.
“The release of the book coincides also with the beginning of current phase of Qatar’s preparations to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022,” said HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani.
A lot of facilities and services that require a large number of experts and workers from various countries around the world are underway. “The country is witnessing a large expansion of businesses in general and construction sector in particular.” The book encapsulates evidence of Qatar Government protecting workers, he said. Hosting the World Cup will be a joyous and memorable event, and a source of pride for Arabs in general and Qatar in particular, he concluded.
Source : Qatar News Agency
