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MikeKelly  
#1 Posted : 15 March 2023 15:57:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Migrant workers in Qatar are facing deteriorating conditions since the end of the 'footie' with rogue employers taking the opportunity of a lack of enforcement and the sure knowledge that offences are likely to go unpunished. Says a global federation of 8 unions. {Guardian] 

Numerous organisations including the ILO and the Royal Norwegian Football Association which has put the proposal to FIFA to find out whether enough has been done to address human rights abuses and migrant worker deaths.

Nowhere is there even a squeak from IOSH as far as I can see. Shouldn't they be shouting about this from the rooftops?

It seems to me that precious few concrete preventive and other measures had ever been developed and implemented in Qatar anyway so it's always possible FIFA might come up with some answers and recommendations and perhaps never choose such a country as host again. 

What should our Qatar members do about this? And what should IOSH do?

MikeKelly  
#2 Posted : 20 March 2023 12:07:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Hi folks,

I note that over 100 readers have looked at this post without comment either in support or against. I would have thought that given IOSH is apparently a world leader in OHS that others might wish to say something about the number of migrant worker deaths in Qatar and how this may be addressed. [5000-6000 according to research plus other human rights issues-see ILO] 

FIFA apparently kicked the problem they faced from the Norwegial Football Federation into the long grass at their meeting in KIgali, Rwanda giving it to an internal enquiry.

It may be that the 'chilling effect' of the code of conduct might be one reason perhaps for no responses but this should not preclude valid and objective comment on an issue of importance.

My answers to my own questions are:-    that IOSH should have stood together with the others who raised the issue with Qatar's leadership and business leaders.

And given that support, our members in Qatar, some of whom, no doubt, work for some of the above mentioned employers, might have been able to influence their senior management to bring about a step change in OHS performance

cordialement

Mike

   

peter gotch  
#3 Posted : 20 March 2023 16:51:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi Mike

I guess I was probably not the only person who decided not to watch a single minute of the World Cup in Qatar.

Just like I guess that I was probably not the only person who decided not to watch Match of the Day when the top brass tried to make an example out of Gary Lineker for speaking his mind on human rights.

But I don't have vested commercial interests in either.

Team.IOSH  
#4 Posted : 21 March 2023 08:48:18(UTC)
Rank: IOSH staff
Team.IOSH

Hi all,

Thanks for sharing these questions. A safe and healthy working environment is now one of the International Labour Organization’s fundamental principles and rights at work. For all Member States, we expect to see action taken at Government level and with policy-makers, including in Qatar, to make this a reality and ratify OSH Conventions with a renewed focus on occupational safety and health post the World Cup. IOSH is keen to see an end to any abuses and will support drives for improvement in Qatar, backed up by our members who are based there.

Thanks again,

IOSH 

M.cooper.99  
#5 Posted : 24 March 2023 12:19:20(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
M.cooper.99

Hi all,

It's good to see a response from IOSH staff. Since I'm new to OHS and have just started as a student, I'm out of the loop with the response IOSH had given to this event. The IOSH website states on the about us page "We advise governments, NGOs and policy makers" and "We commission research and set national and international standards" combined with the new Activate 2028 plan thats "All about action - and the entire occupational health and safety (OSH) coming together to deliver a safe and healthy world of work". As someone who is new to the world of OHS, this shouts that IOSH should have and should be taking the initiative here and setting up a strategy for helping to change the conditions seen in the reports. However, I couldn't find much after searching on the internet.

Could anyone provide me with articles or posts that detail actions that IOSH and its members have taken?

Regards

Mathew

MikeKelly  
#6 Posted : 25 March 2023 14:39:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Hi 'TeamIOSH',

Thanks for the response, although you have me at a disadvantage in using an alias. Would you tell me with whom I am conversing? i.e. who are the Team members? So that we can see how much they might achieve with regard to the following para.

I think the previous poster, M.cooper's post, was similar to mine in that he expects, as I do that IOSH, being a world leader would have taken the initiative--this being a favoured competence, [of the 69] so placing greater and continuing pressure on Qatar's government, businesses and indeed FIFA.

You might also be able to provide M.Cooper with the information he referred to in his post. Good for a new member, eh? 

Regards

Mike 

thanks 1 user thanked MikeKelly for this useful post.
M.cooper.99 on 29/03/2023(UTC)
MikeKelly  
#7 Posted : 29 March 2023 13:26:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Hi team

Any chance of an answer to my question as to the names/positions of actual members of 'Team.IOSH'?

In the spirit of openness, etc as seen throughout Activate28.

Also I'm sure MCooper.99 would like an answer to his questions too.

Regards

Mike 

thanks 2 users thanked MikeKelly for this useful post.
M.cooper.99 on 29/03/2023(UTC), peter gotch on 29/03/2023(UTC)
Team.IOSH  
#8 Posted : 30 March 2023 16:29:19(UTC)
Rank: IOSH staff
Team.IOSH

Hi and thanks for your follow-up messages.

Firstly, who responds from Team IOSH can vary as monitoring sits within the Marketing and Communications team. In this instance, my name's Lauren :)

Depending on the type of question raised, I will ensure the best person supports the response as needed. In this instance, the answer to your questions on policy were provided to me through our Policy and Regulatory Engagement team.

In relation to your question, our Activate 2028 strategy has at its heart our vision of a safe and healthy world of work and a mission which is about driving action from everyone. As you’ll appreciate, there are many focus areas which underpin this strategy. Activity areas include advocacy and influence on OSH matters and we do this work through many different ways and in different countries. In relation to Qatar, you may be familiar with the work being undertaken by the ILO – https://www.ilo.org/beir...lang--en/index.htm – for which there is a programme of work in place that is still up and running. In addition, our Qatar branch and other members who are based there strive every day to improve how OSH risks are managed and we support them with this in many ways.

If you require anything further, Ruth Wilkinson within the Policy and Regulatory Engagement team, can be contacted by emailing publicaffairs@iosh.com

Thanks again!

Edited by user 30 March 2023 16:32:01(UTC)  | Reason: Formatting

thanks 1 user thanked Team.IOSH for this useful post.
jonc on 03/04/2023(UTC)
MikeKelly  
#9 Posted : 31 March 2023 10:08:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Bonjour Lauren,

Thanks for your belated response. 

I have a suggestion. Given that various people are involved in responding, depending on the subject, why not require 'the best person'  to sign off with their own name-much like  M.cooper and I, for instance. Then we'll all know how to respond and to whom.

And, yet again, please ring around and find 'this best person' to answer the questions put much earlier. ie from the policy/regulatory team etc. 

Unsurprisingly I realise that the ILO have an extensive programme of work but that isn't a work activity of IOSH except to hang onto the ILO's coat tails.

I was asking what IOSH should have been doing specifically about Qatar. You say you support Qatar branch members-How??

Perhaps Ruth Wilkinson could have responded much earlier. Maybe now. eh?

And again, don't forget Mathew Coopers questions, as a new member he's the one you need to keep onside.

Regards

Mike 

thanks 1 user thanked MikeKelly for this useful post.
peter gotch on 31/03/2023(UTC)
Team.IOSH  
#10 Posted : 04 April 2023 13:04:14(UTC)
Rank: IOSH staff
Team.IOSH

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your suggestions.

If you send an email to the policy and regulatory engagement team at publicaffairs@iosh.com, Ruth or one of her colleagues can answer your questions about this matter directly.

With kind regards,

Lauren

MikeKelly  
#11 Posted : 05 April 2023 15:21:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Bonjour Lauren,

Thanks for that.

In this case, and given that this is a public forum, I think that you could, using your system give this question [together with Mathew Cooper's] straight to Ruth for her answers to both.   These are clearly outlined in the above posts.

Looking forward to that

bien cordialement

Mike

MikeKelly  
#12 Posted : 18 April 2023 14:36:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MikeKelly

Hi Lauren

Still no response from the relevant person[s].

What sort of membership organisation is this? Don't tell me! It is all so reminiscent of a 'Yes, Minister' episode  about a new hospital which apparently worked really well until they had to take in patients.

Anyway is there anything to report? --can you get someone to answer the questions posed as I'm pretty sure that Mathew hasn't heard either.

Sorry it's all on your shoulders, you would hope that someone may have intervened.

Regards

Mike

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