The International Labour Organization (ILO) is weighing a move of its Middle East regional headquarters from Beirut to Doha, raising alarm among staff over potential compromises to the UN agency’s independence and mission. The proposal comes amid cost-cutting measures and a broader push to reform the organisation, which faces shrinking aid from major donors like the United States, according to reporting by the Financial Times.
The relocation would see the ILO’s “Regional Office for the Arab States” move to Qatar, the 2022 FIFA World Cup host, with projected savings of around $500,000 for 2026-27. The ILO cited support from the host government, better access to Gulf resources, and Lebanon’s “persistent instability” as reasons for the proposed transfer.
However, staff members have voiced serious concerns. A resolution by the ILO’s regional staff union, supported by nearly 80% of surveyed members, called for “genuine consultations” and warned that the move could signal tolerance for weak labour standards in a region where migrant workers face limited protections. Employees worry that working in Qatar could hinder the agency’s ability to monitor labour rights independently. “If you want to meet workers it has to be authorised by the government,” one Beirut staffer said, adding that researchers could feel unsafe publishing reports critical of Gulf states while based there.
Qatar, while making some labour reforms including dismantling the controversial kafala sponsorship system, still bans trade unions and has ratified only five of the ILO’s ten fundamental conventions — one of the lowest in the Gulf region. Human rights groups continue to highlight challenges faced by migrant workers, including illegal recruitment fees, harsh working conditions, low pay, and limited job mobility.
A Qatari official told the ILO that Doha has “consulted and co-ordinated extensively with global partners, including the ILO, governments, trade unions, and NGOs, to implement a fair and effective labour system in line with the highest international standards.” The official added that the reforms have benefited “hundreds of thousands” of workers.
The ILO emphasised that the review aims to make the organisation “leaner, more agile, more resilient, and more impactful” in a changing multilateral environment, and noted that having a presence in a country can provide an opportunity to influence national labour standards and social justice agendas.
Nonetheless, staff concerns persist. Employees argue that moving to Doha could put the ILO’s independence at risk, complicate engagement with workers, and limit the agency’s ability to critically evaluate labour practices in the Gulf. A Beirut staff member said, “Forcing the entire region to suffer from these challenges makes no sense,” highlighting doubts over the move’s cost-effectiveness and operational feasibility.
The ILO said it continues to keep staff informed of developments and is actively engaging with the regional staff union to address their concerns, even as the governing body prepares to discuss the relocation proposal later this month.
