CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
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Qatar / General

MoL measures help reduce occupational heat stress cases

Published: 10 May 2023 - 08:05 am | Last Updated: 10 May 2023 - 08:11 am
Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri (right) interacts with a participant on the sidelines of International Conference on Occupational Heat Stress, in Doha, yesterday.

Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri (right) interacts with a participant on the sidelines of International Conference on Occupational Heat Stress, in Doha, yesterday.

Sanaullah Ataullah | The Peninsula

Doha: The measures implemented by the Ministry of Labour (MoL) contributed greatly to curbing the number of injuries resulting from occupational heat stress in recent years in Qatar.

Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri has stressed Qatar’s keenness to upgrade heat stress prevention legislation in line with labour market developments.

The Minister was addressing the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Occupational Heat Stress under the theme “Implementation of Practices, Sharing of Experiences” which began yesterday in Doha.

The two-day event organised by MoL in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), will discuss the latest measures, challenges, and opportunities to adopt progressive approaches that can help reduce the impact of heat stress on the work environment. The conference will also align with global and regional trends in addressing this issue.

“Qatar leads the way in safeguarding workers from the negative impacts of occupational heat stress. The country was one of the first in the world to implement a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing the detrimental effects of high temperatures on workplace productivity,” said the Minister.

He explained that the Ministry increased the period during which it is prohibited to work in open places during the summer, as the total prohibited working hours became higher compared to the countries in the region.

The Minister noted the adoption of various practices to ensure the implementation of legislation on the ground, including the promotion of awareness campaigns for employers and workers and inspections of worksites. 

“Qatar has undertaken, since 2019, the implementation of the largest study ever on the effects of occupational heat stress in coordination and cooperation with international partners. The study’s findings have contributed to the global understanding of occupational heat stress and provided insights into potential solutions. As a result, the study has made recommendations aimed at improving worker protection,” he added.

The Minister said that the world is suffering from the climate change crisis, which affected the entire world, in addition to the challenges related to global warming and its impact on work.

He stressed the importance of holding a series of meetings to discuss ways to prevent the impact of high temperatures on the work environment, as it is one of the priorities of the occupational safety and health policy.

The Minister emphasised MoL’s ongoing collaboration with both regional and international partners in the national occupational safety and health system.

“This partnership aims to improve prevention measures and enhance the nation’s capacity to monitor heat stress cases,” he added.

For his part, Khalifa Khamis Mattar Al Kaabi, Representative of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the UAE and member of the International Labour Organization Governing Body for West Asian countries affirmed that employers are firmly committed to the issue of occupational safety and health.

He stressed taking appropriate measures to avoid accidents and injuries and protect workers.

“Safeguarding the well-being and safety of workers is not solely a moral or legal responsibility but also an essential requirement for achieving sustainable economic growth within countries. It is also crucial for countries that supply a significant portion of the workforce in other nations”, he noted.

Bilal Malkawi, Regional Secretary, International Transport Workers Federation said that Qatar has taken a key step towards addressing the impact of occupational heat stress by adopting advanced legislation that is considered a model to be followed at the level of countries in the region.

He appreciated the efforts made by Qatar in the field of protecting workers from the negative effects of heat stress, pointing to the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to occupational safety and health that depends primarily on prevention from the negative effects of different circumstances.

Dr. Ruba Jaradat, Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for the Arab States, ILO, said that the rise in global temperatures presents challenges that might increase occupational illnesses, which could have adverse effects on workers in both the short and long term.

Heat stress causes a decline in worker productivity, as it is estimated that 2% of the total working hours are lost around the world each year, according to ILO, she said, noting that there are expectations of a loss of 3 and 5% of working hours in some Gulf countries by the year 2030 due to heat stress.