Labour minister, ILO director-general visit fan zone

HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, Minister of Labour, met Saturday with Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), who is currently visiting the country.During the meeting, they discussed aspects of co-operation between Qatar and the ILO, and ways to further support and develop them in the coming period.Following the meeting, HE Dr al-Marri, accompanied by Houngbo, visited one of the fan zones located in the Industrial Area, which is supervised by the Ministry of Labour (MoL).The dignitaries participated in the accompanying activities taking place in the fan zone, which was set up to give fans the opportunity to enjoy the unique World Cup festivities.They also watched part of a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match at one of the fan zones, and also held discussions with expatriate labourers with regard to their experiences, and enquired about their enjoyment of the World Cup.HE the Minister of Labour was briefed on the amenities provided and the preparations undertaken by the ministry at some of the fan zones, stressing the need to provide all facets of support to these fan zones, as they directly contribute to the success of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup through its continuous efforts over the past years, the MoL said in a press statement.HE Dr al-Marri explained that the Ministry of Labour fully realises the great importance of facilitating recreational experiences for labourers by organising events that run alongside the World Cup.He also noted that various other entertaining and recreational events are organised during various occasions such as Qatar National Day and National Sport Day, among others.Moreover, the ministry has set up a host of fan zones across the country so that everyone can enjoy watching matches and tap into the great World Cup atmosphere.The dignitaries also visited the labour housing city, Barahat Al Janoub, which is managed by Barwa Real Estate Company, within the specifications and requirements of the MoL for labour housing.Barahat Al Janoub has a capacity of more than 67,000 labourers, and is expected to start receiving labourers during the second quarter of next year.