Speaker of the Shura Council H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim chairing an ordinary weekly session of the council at Tamim bin Hamad Hall yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: The Shura Council noted that Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030) is a roadmap for achieving sustainable economic growth, financial stability and establishing a cohesive society enjoying a high quality of life during a session chaired by Speaker of Shura Council H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.
The strategy will contribute to developing and sustaining human resources as a key pillar for development as well as treasuring the environment and resources to be used optimally.
Besides, the Council commended the opening of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 last Friday at the Lusail Stadium, highlighting the sound organisation and careful preparations to host this exceptional tournament.
The Council discussed the report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee as part of a request for general discussion submitted by a number of Their Excellencies the members in the last session, regarding benefiting from pensioners in the labour market.
During his review of the report, Chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee H E Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana referred to the meetings held by the committee to discuss the issue, and its addresses to the concerned authorities to find solutions through which pensioners can be integrated into the labour market according to clear mechanisms and procedures that guarantee the rights of all parties.
He pointed out that the committee has taken care to examine this file exhaustively, to benefit from retirees in the development projects taking place in the country, and to fill the shortage in some jobs that are commensurate with their qualifications and experience, in accordance with the Retirement and Social Insurance Law.
In a related context, Speaker of Shura Council indicated that the labour market needs the accumulated experience of pensioners, many of whom are still able and willing to provide that experience and contribute to the development of the country, especially in the field of training and qualification, providing consultations in various fields.
For their part, Their Excellencies Council members pointed out, during the discussion on the report, that there are many pensioners who worked in various medical, engineering, educational, and other specialities and are still able to perform well. They are valuable national human resources that must be utilised.”
After discussions that took in consideration the interests of pensioners, benefiting from their expertise in various sectors in the country, and exchanging views on the report’s conclusions, the Council decided to submit a proposal to the government on the aforementioned topic.
The proposal included a number of items that would give a clear picture of the number of pensioners, and how to make the best use of them.
The most prominent of these items was the development of the Istamer platform to include the use of pensioners in the public sector, according to temporary employment contracts in accordance with the pension law, and the identification and classification of jobs and occupations required to benefit from pensioners in the public sector in various fields.
The proposal also emphasised the need for cooperation between various state agencies in supporting of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau to achieve the purpose of the Istamer platform, and to benefit from pensioners in filling the shortage of temporary jobs, providing consultations and transferring experiences to the younger generation. Besides, ensuring media promotion to the idea of benefiting from pensioners through various media outlets and discussing the mechanisms of re-integrating them into the labour market. This should be announced via the Istamer platform with priority to retired Qatari experts and advisors.
The Council discussed a draft law on extending the concession granted to Qatar Fuel Company (Woqod) to market, sell, transport and distribute gas and petroleum products, which was assigned to it by the government. The Council decided to refer the draft law to the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee to study it and submit a report on it to the Council.
The Council approved a request to extend the work of the Shura Council’s Services and the Public Utilities Committee to study the request for general discussion regarding delaying medical appointments in the public health sector, study the request for general discussion regarding rainwater accumulations and the losses they cause, and study a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. (1) of 2012 on the regulation of placing advertisements.
