Very early on, QDVC sought to set up effective workers’ representation bodies and organise free and fair elections for the representatives in order to encourage and enhance social dialogue within the company in a country where freedom of association is limited.
Workers' Welfare Committee
A workers’ committee was formed in 2011 and has gradually expanded its powers and scope over the years. It discusses issues such as working conditions, wages, living conditions and health and safety. In 2016, QDVC organised elections for workers’ representatives to sit on the Workers’ Welfare Committee (WWC). A total of 4,800 workers took part in the election, setting a new record in Qatar. The vote was preceded by a vast campaign to inspire involvement. A second election to renew the members was held in 2019, in the presence of the BWI and representatives from international unions, who confirmed the procedure was well organised and efficient.
In 2021, QDVC organised its third election, with a participation rate of 93%. The BWI noted that the workers had trust in the employer/employee dialogue process as they could see their requests and suggestions were taken into account, problems they had raised were addressed and management provided transparent information.
Furthermore, workers’ representatives undergo skills development training provided by the BWI and QDVC on a variety of matters, including modules on the role of representatives, practical knowledge of labour laws, how to handle complaints and public speaking. The course runs during working hours.
QDVC formally requested all its subcontractors and temporary worker agencies hold free and fair elections to form their own workers’ committees. This is being examined as part of the human rights and working conditions audits, and subcontractors are provided with the appropriate support.
BWI - VINCI - QDVC agreement
The Group signed an agreement on workers’ rights in Qatar with Building and Wood Worker's International (BWI) in 2017. The agreement covers human rights in the workplace, accommodation, and issues relating to fair recruitment and the employment rights of workers. It applies to all QDVC workers in Qatar, including those employed by temp agencies, subcontractors and co-contractors.
Under the agreement, a verification system (including monitoring, reports, checks, inspections and audits) must be used. The first audit of QDVC sites and operations in Qatar was conducted in January 2019 and included an inspection of QDVC’s main project – the light-rail transit (LRT) system – and workers’ accommodation. The final report for the public audit did not flag any major concerns (see press release). Another public audit conducted in October 2021 confirmed the commitment shown by QDVC and VINCI to safeguarding its workers’ rights in Qatar.
The agreement marks the establishment of an independent complaint resolution procedure, enabling QDVC employees or subcontractors to lodge complaints with BWI, which will bring them to the attention of QDVC or VINCI. The procedure is working as intended – complaints have already been lodged and the employees in question have received a response. There is also a complaints procedure in place with the ILO in Qatar, which has been the subject of widespread communication throughout the company.
Secondary channels for complaint reporting
Other tools and outlets have been provided internally to encourage workers to speak up and share any worries they may have (discussions and forums on health and safety, an internal complaints procedure, peer support programmes, etc.).
Over the years, QDVC’s CSR department has conducted a number of qualitative surveys based on interviews to better understand and address workers’ needs and gauge their level of satisfaction at the company. In total, several thousand workers, including subcontractors, have taken part in the process, ensuring worker consultation forms a key component of QDVC’s human rights strategy.
Lire aussi : Health and safety
Lire aussi : Checks on subcontractors