by Leslie Ann Aquino, Manila Bulletin, 27 Sep 2020
The Department of Labor and Employment on Sunday said Qatar’s new “non-discriminatory minimum wage” is beneficial to overseas Filipino workers.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the new non-discriminatory minimum wage of Qatar, the first Arab state to introduce a significant labor policy reform, covers all its migrant workers.
He said the government of Qatar adopted early last month Law No. 17 Series of 2020 setting the minimum wage for all workers of all nationalities in the private sector at 1,000 Qatari riyals equivalent to $274 or P13,325 in basic wage.
In addition to the minimum basic wage, Bello said, employers are directed to ensure that workers are provided adequate food and accommodation, or allocation of additional 500 QR for accommodation and 200 QR for food, bringing the minimum total gross salary to 1,800 QR equivalent to $494 or P24,000.
The Labor chief said based on the report of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Qatar, the law also establishes a Minimum Wage Committee that will review the impact and application of the minimum wage, in consultation with different bodies, experts, workers, and employers.
Bello said the report also added that the government of Qatar, through the Ministry of Administrative Development Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA), will be working with employers to “update all employment contracts where workers are earning less than the amount established by the new law.”
He, however, stressed that OFWs who are already enjoying higher salaries and benefits need not worry as MADLSA gave an assurance that they will not be affected by the new law.
Bello added that there are amendments to the labor law prescribing stricter penalties for employers who “fail to pay their workers’ wages and provide adequate accommodations, prescribed by MADLSA.”
According to DoLE, the new minimum wage law will come into force after six months from its publication in Qatar’s Official Gazette on Sept. 9, 2020.
Earlier, Qatar abolished the ”kafala,” an employment system that requires all migrant workers to secure the permission of employers before they can seek another employment.
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
