1 October 2013
Qatar is to recruit more inspectors to crack down on companies that are not complying with labour laws.
According to Qatar newspaper, The Peninsula, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will employ more inspectors to mount raids and checks on companies.
The ministry is also hiring more foreign-language interpreters to address workers’ complaints.
Building contractors will be under particular scrutiny as they are large employers of foreign workers.
High-rise construction in Doha, Qatar (Credit: Amjra)
The news comes after allegations of "modern day slavery" following an investigation by UK newspaper, The Guardian.
Qatar has the highest ratio of migrant workers to domestic population in the world and is currently embarking on a large building and infrastructure programme in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, H E Abdullah Saleh Al Khulaifi, told reporters: "We will not hesitate to take necessary action to protect the rights of expatriate workforce."
