“Qatar’s Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund: Tall Claims and Not Enough Data”

The executive director of Qatar’s Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund (WSIF), Kholoud Saif Abdullah Al Kubaisi, recently stated that “over 130,000 workers have benefitted from the fund since its establishment, including its significant contribution to protecting their rights and ensuring that they receive their financial dues.”

Though Al Kubaisi spoke of the fund’s transparency and its role alongside wider reforms in “reducing labour disputes and complaints,” there are still several issues that remain unaddressed…

The fund was established in 2018 through Law No. 17 of 2018, and its mandate covers three primary areas…

It is unclear whether the 130,000 beneficiaries received support across all three areas or primarily as compensation for unpaid wages…

It remains unclear whether these amounts constitute a final settlement or an interim one, as most workers are owed significantly more than these maximum amounts. As MR has previously reported, workers usually file wage theft complaints only after several months of non-payment, and the resolution process takes a few more months. In this case, the total entitlements should add up, encompassing not just wages owed but also end-of service-benefits…