No ban on Filipino domestic workers

DOHA: There is no ban on Filipina household service workers (HSW) and Qatar is still hiring them, the Ambassador Crescent R Relacion clarified yesterday.

“There is no ban. It’s the decision of Qatar to hire other nationalities. They are still hiring Filipino domestic workers but in a very limited number,” Ambassador Relacion said in light of reports Qatar had imposed a ban on Filipina housemaids because of the $400 minimum wage requirement of the Philippine government.

The envoy was speaking to local media on the sidelines of the 115th celebration of Philippine Independence yesterday at the Embassy.

On whether this would affect other potential Filipino workers, he said: “I think Qatar is a country with a very sound policy. I hope this will not affect other categories of (Filipino) workers. Just in case they won’t hire Filipino HSWs because of the $400 minimum wage, it is an open market and if that would be their decision we welcome that. We would like Qatar to engage our workers here. We would like Qatar to continue to accept our workers here including HSW. I hope this issue would be resolved in a very amicable manner,” he said.

By invitation from the Qatari government, a delegation from the Philippine Labour Department is coming to Doha by next month for the second meeting of the joint labour committee of the two countries, he added, and the housemaid issue could be at the agenda.

He added that besides household service workers there are many other issues to be discuss ed during the meeting.

The Ambassador is optimistic with the many projects on schedule in the run up to Qatar’s hosting of World Cup 2022, more Filipinos would be given the chance to work in Qatar.

“Qatar said they will be employing one million additional workers leading to their World Cup 2022 hosting. I believe in the competence and work ethics of Filipinos needed and looked for by employers in Qatar and I am very optimistic they are going to hire additional Filipino workers here. In fact in my projection months ago, we will be doubling the number. There are some issues we are now facing but I know we can hurdle them,” he ended. –The Peninsula