Qatar affirms intention to continue contributions to enhance cooperation on international migration

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani

The State of Qatar affirmed its intention to continue its contributions to enhance cooperation on international migration, and its keenness to continue its role as a vital and effective partner in international efforts to implement the vision and objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, based on its national principles based on respect, promotion and protection of human rights. This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, before the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), held under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly. The statement said that the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration constitutes a valuable cooperative framework and a comprehensive vision for creating a safe international environment for regulating migration. In its statement, the State of Qatar reviewed the initiatives that it has taken in line with efforts to achieve the goals of the Global Compact, pointing to its initiative to form a national working group headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the authorities concerned with migration policies and stakeholders in the country, in order to put into place the commitments and principles contained in the agreement. The State of Qatar also valued the vital role played by expatriate workers and their contributory role in building the country's infrastructure and achieving sustainable development. The statement pointed out that the State of Qatar is working to provide basic services to migrant workers without discrimination, as they enjoy legal protection and services, including in the fields of health, education, social care and housing. The statement stressed that the State of Qatar is continuing its awareness campaigns to introduce national legislation and recent reforms in the field of labor, in cooperation with all concerned parties, to complement its tireless efforts to develop labor laws, and to continue dealing with this issue in a transparent manner that reflects its commitment to international labor standards, where legislative and executive measures have been taken which guarantees the protection and promotion of the human rights of migrant workers. The statement pointed out that the State of Qatar has embarked on an ambitious program to develop a competitive and diversified economy, achieving significant goals in the field of fair recruitment and equitable employment in line with international labor standards. In this context, the statement referred to the pioneering efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar in the region, including the final abolition of sponsorship system, and the implementation of radical reforms to labor laws in accordance with an ambitious plan aimed at building a modern and competitive labor market that ensures decent working conditions for all, and ensures a safe and healthy work environment. . The statement expressed Qatar's keenness to ensure safe and humane means of movement for migrant workers, and to protect them from the risks of human trafficking and exploitation, within the framework of commitment to the Global Agreement on Migration. The statement noted the innovative initiatives taken by the State of Qatar, pointing to the establishment of Qatar visa centers in the labor-sending countries to complete the procedures and know the terms of employment, which contributes to enhancing the transparency of these procedures and providing the necessary protection for workers. The statement stressed that the State of Qatar will continue its keenness to take all measures that contribute to providing protection for workers. The statement added that the State of Qatar seeks to achieve a more efficient and productive labor market by supporting investments and providing job opportunities for workers with the required skills, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The statement pointed out that the State of Qatar has adopted the freedom of financial transfers and the abolition of restrictions on financial transfers from migrant workers to their countries, where, during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the necessary measures were taken in coordination with the competent authorities to enable all workers to continue transferring money to their families in their countries by easy means. The statement also expressed the State of Qatar's pride in hosting the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, in Doha from 5 to 9 March 2023, indicating that the Doha Work Program for the Least Developed Countries did not neglect to highlight the positive contributions of migrants to achieving comprehensive growth and the obligation to cooperate at the international level to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration in a manner that includes full respect and humane treatment for all migrants. The State of Qatar has renewed its determination to continue its contributions to enhance cooperation on international migration, and to maintain the momentum witnessed in the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration with the aim of moving forward in joint international efforts.