Qatar to set up first labour union

With Qatar preparing for the 2022 World Cup, the Ministry of Labour said it wants to set up the country's first labour union to guarantee workers' rights. "Planning for the World cup is not restricted to construction and infrastructure improvements but includes addressing workers' rights," said Hussein al-Mulla, deputy minister of labour. "Qatar is planning to form an elected and independent workers' union to protect workers' rights regardless of their nationality," al-Mulla told the al-Ara newspaper Monday. Rights groups in Qatar hailed the decision as "a step in the right direction," al-Shorfa Web site said. Taha al-Ani, an engineer, told al-Shorfa the proposed union could help solve problems employees encounter with Qatari companies