PARLIAMENT has ratified a bilateral agreement between Ghana and Qatar aimed at regulating manpower employment in Qatar and protecting the rights of Ghanaian citizens working abroad.
The agreement, presented by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, seeks to safeguard Ghanaian workers seeking employment in Qatar, ensuring they receive proper accommodation, medical allowances, and other benefits.
Addressing Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, highlighted key provisions of the agreement. He explained that Article 9 mandates all employers in Qatar to sign contracts with Ghanaian workers to protect their rights, while Article 10 guarantees accommodation, medical, and other allowances.
Describing the pact as Ghana’s first comprehensive and welfare-focused labour mobility agreement, Mr. Ablakwa emphasized that previous labour agreements, mostly in the form of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), were not binding enough, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation.
He noted that Qatar’s Parliament has already ratified the agreement, and once Ghana’s Parliament ratifies it under Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution, the agreement becomes legally binding.
Mr. Ablakwa further revealed that the agreement covers multiple sectors, including health, tourism, engineering, IT, transport, and logistics, and ensures a transparent recruitment process through advertised opportunities.
“Ghanaian workers deserve protection, and this agreement ensures their welfare and rights are respected. My role was to negotiate and ensure the agreement meets these basic tenets,” he said.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-
TETTEY
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
