Labour Rights in Islam: Supervision and the Health, Safety and Welfare of Migrant Labour in Qatar

This research is focused on analysing the concept of labour rights in Islam and the role Islamic ethics plays in addressing modern day labour rights abuses. A field study of supervision and the health, safety and welfare of migrant labour in Qatar was carried out by juxtaposing the normative expectations as found in Islam and Qatari legislation (which encompasses international health, safety and welfare standards), and actual implementation at the workplace. The performance of two civil construction companies currently working on projects in Qatar are critically analysed to test their commitment to the prevention of harm and the protection of the rights of their workers. Using a survey, an interview schedule, a focus group and pre-existing accident and hospitalisation statistics, the thesis highlights how a focus on those in direct supervisory roles, and the use of behaviour based safety techniques align with, and can encourage, the implementation of principles grounded in Islamic ethics. The findings suggest that Islamic ethics does play a role in how migrant workers are treated in Qatar albeit one that is nuanced as the state seeks to promote the international and universal nature of its laws. Furthermore, organisations that utilise Behaviour Based Safety techniques have fewer accidents and also have employees that feel valued and cared for by their supervisors. It is concluded that Islamic ethical management principles largely align with behaviour based safety approaches and should be used to motivate the implementation of health, safety and welfare laws which in turn lead to the prevention of harm and the protection of the rights of migrant workers.