The Employment Standards Office (ESO) at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is the first entity in Qatar to provide conciliation and mediation services through a professional conciliator and mediator of labour disputes certified by the International Labor Organization (ILO).  

In addition to the new conciliation and mediation services, the ESO, which is a unique administrative dispute resolution centre in the region, and structured to function in accordance with the ILO Guidelines on Labour Dispute Systems, has announced it has implemented the ILO principle of Social Dialogue by launching a working group called the ESO Think Lab.

The ESO Think Lab gives members of the QFC community the opportunity to come together to share their views on employment legislation and discuss the introduction of new labour standards in line with the evolved business needs of the QFC. Membership is awarded to firms who have demonstrated ongoing commitment to operate in compliance with the QFC Employment Framework. 

Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO of QFC Authority said: "We are very proud to be the first entity in Qatar to obtain ILO certification, this achievement is further proof of our commitment to foster a world-class working environment for all QFC entities, firms and staff, as well as our determination to continue to grow." He continued: "At the QFC, we are always looking at ways we can build upon and improve our standards, which is why we have launched the ESO Think Lab. This working group gives the opportunity for QFC firms to have input into how we can ensure our employment standards continue to be first-rate, and in-line with QFC laws and regulations. I look forward to seeing the group develop over time and what contributions it makes to the progression of QFC employment standards."

Luigia Ingianni, Employment Standards Officer added: "The achievement of the ILO certification on conciliation and mediation as well as the implementation of the Social Dialogue principle confirm our full commitment to apply ILO principles and facilitate the growth of the QFC in line with the highest labour standards." 

Since its inception in 2015, the Employment Standards Office at the QFC offers free of charge professional services to the QFC business community and it is the first dispute resolution system fully operating under the ILO/UN framework in Qatar.