n the context of raising awareness to confront (Covid-19), the Ministry of Labor and Social Development is following up on establishments to implement the highest standards of occupational health and

13-05-2021

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development organised a remote meeting with several employers, workers, trade union organisations, and representatives of civil society institutions concerned with migrant workers’ affairs. The meeting was held via videoconference, with the participation of the Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the Ministry, Mr Ahmed Jaafar Al Hayki. The meeting reviewed safe and healthy practices to prevent the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as the precautionary and preventive efforts and measures of establishments operating in the private sector to prevent the spread of this virus in workers’ sites and housing. The meeting also reviewed the successful and distinguished experiences of some establishments that have proven their effectiveness in limiting its spread among workers. This meeting comes as part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development's efforts and its supervision of the implementation of precautionary measures and preventive measures by private sector establishments to prevent the spread of this pandemic. In this context, the Ministry is organising a series of virtual meetings in cooperation with private sector institutions and companies, trade unions, and civil society organisations. The aim is to enhance awareness among employers and workers of the importance of adhering to the administrative circular issued by His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development regarding combating and preventing the spread of this disease in workplaces and workers' housing, which was implemented as of 13 April 2020. This is to ensure the health and safety of everyone, especially workers in establishments and the public dealing with them. In a statement on this occasion, Al Hayki stressed the importance the Ministry attaches to all private sector institutions’ measures to protect workers at workplaces and residences, and the technical consultations provided to all workers and employers to implement the necessary safe practices to limit the spread of the Coronavirus among members of society. He reviewed the steps taken by the Ministry to maintain the safety and health of workers, whether at workplaces or at their residences, stressing that such direct remote meetings contribute to strengthening the concept and culture of preventive awareness of the safety and health of workers at workplaces. He called on establishments to adhere to the highest safe and healthy practices and apply the highest standards in workplaces until this stage is passed. For their part, the participants commended the Ministry of Labour and Social Development's continued intensification of its initiatives, noting their importance in providing an update on the latest developments related to the implementation of safe and healthy practices at workplaces and collective housing for expatriate workers, and listening to proposals for developing occupational safety procedures that would help limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) among workers and ensure the health and safety of all.