Delegates from Switzerland at the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the Sheraton Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
A member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Standing Committee on Human Rights has praised Qatar’s efforts in protecting rights of migrant workers.
Andrea Caroni, Senator of the Swiss Parliament and Head of Delegation for the 140th Assembly of the IPU said that the progress Qatar has made in protecting migrant workers was commendable.
“Qatar has made a huge progress on migrant workers’ rights. The country is on the forefront in making reforms. We are really impressed over what has been done,” he told The Peninsula on the sidelines of the 140th Assembly of the IPU, yesterday at Sheraton Doha.
Caroni and his colleagues have held meetings with the representatives of the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. They have also toured the Lusail Stadium built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“We do not just sit for sessions and discussions. We went out to explore the real situation and held discussions with the people concerned,” said Caroni.
“They were welcoming and very open for discussions. The stadium in Lusail has the highest standards. It was an eye catcher and the work done by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy is remarkable,” he added.
He also said that the perspective they had about Qatar before reaching here had changed after seeing the ground situation. “Our impression about Qatar has changed in a positive way,” said Caroni.
The three-member Swiss delegation has made a strong representation at the 140th Assembly of the IPU. “Switzerland has always been active within the IPU and advocating for the causes,” said Caroni.
The members of the Swiss delegation included Parliamentarian Margret Kiener Nellen, an active advocate for Human Rights and Christian Lohr, a member of Swiss Parliament and Member of the Committee on Health and Social Security of the IPU. He is the vice-head of the Swiss delegation to the 140th Assembly of the IPU. Lohr will be heading the Swiss delegation at the next IPU Assembly.
