Qatar's labour reforms highlighted at Doha Dialogue

Doha, Qatar - The Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility commenced in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on October 5-6, focusing on "From Commitment to Action: Advancing Fair and Sustainable Labour Mobility between Africa and GCC+". Hosted by Tanzania, the gathering included over 33 nations, spanning GCC, African, and Arab countries, alongside representatives from the African Union Commission, International Labour Organization, Arab Labour Organization, International Organization for Migration, and various experts and civil society members.

Tanzanian President H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, representing Tanzanian President H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, opened the session. Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Minister of Labour, welcomed the delegates and thanked Tanzania for hosting the event. He praised the efforts of the African Union Commission, GCC Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs, ILO, and International Organization for Migration.

The Dialogue, established in May 2024, serves as a consultative platform for origin and destination countries, addressing shared challenges and developing practical solutions while safeguarding workers' rights. Dr. Al Marri highlighted Qatar's reforms, including the abolition of exit permits, the non-discriminatory minimum wage for domestic workers, and the establishment of Labour Dispute Settlement Committees and the Workers' Support and Insurance Fund.

Tanzanian Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office for Labour, Employment and Relations, Deus Clement Sangu, underscored the importance of labour mobility for employment, skills development, economic growth, and social transformation. He noted that 15,241 Tanzanian nationals had found work in Gulf countries between 2022 and August 2026.