Qatar: Migrant Workers

Baroness Gardner of Parkes Excerpts

Thursday 24th July 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, the Government have a close relationship with Qatar and we constantly express our views. We do so also through multilateral and UN channels. One of the issues is that the sending states, mainly south Asian states, do not make as strong representations as many others about the position of workers in Qatar. I have to say in mitigation that the population of Qatar rose by 15% last year, almost entirely accounted for by foreign workers coming in. Part of the problem is that a huge boom is going on and the system does not have the capacity to cope with what is happening as a result.

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Con)]

My Lords, while I have every sympathy with the Question and think it is very valid, are we in a position to criticise others when in this country care workers looking after people at home are still being paid about £2 an hour because they get nothing for travel time between jobs? Therefore, it is time that we set our own house in order.

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, the noble Baroness makes a very fair point.