State sponsorship pushed
Some Qataris are demanding the implementation of a new sponsorship law, saying that the state should be the sponsor of foreign workers and not individual citizens or business owners. However, others feel that the existing law only needs some amendments in order to achieve a rightful balance between the rights of workers and employers.
New rehabilitation center for abuse victims
A rehabilitation center has recently been established by the newly formed human rights department for victims of human trafficking, women forced into prostitution, abused domestic workers and children. The center will provide psychological counseling and rehabilitation to abuse victims, especially domestic workers and children, whose cases have been filed with the police or those referred by official bodies, such as the interior ministry, the National Human Rights Committee, the labor department, etc.
The victims’ center will provide shelter to abuse victims until their cases have been heard in court.
Pakistani deportees last year
Of the 200 Pakistanis deported from Qatar last year, 194 have overstayed their visas and six left after completing their sentences given by Qatari courts. The deportees included those who availed of last year’s amnesty. Meanwhile, an increase in the number of irregular immigrants, not only Pakistanis, has been reported in the past months.
Indian Embassy pushing for mandatory clearance
The Indian mission in Doha is pushing for the re-enforcement of a rule that will make it compulsory for Qatari companies to get clearance from the embassy when hiring unskilled and semi-skilled Indian workers. This is due to the increasing number of unpaid Indian workers asking for the embassy’s help. Meanwhile, the 67 unpaid Indian construction workers who went to the embassy on 5 September to demand action against their employers are still waiting for compensation after their employers reneged on an earlier promise to clear all salary arrears. Their unpaid salaries total QR 1,000,700.
Sri Lankan Embassy to act on complaints
The Sri Lankan mission has decided to start inspecting transit accommodation facilities that are made available by manpower agencies in Doha for newly arrived Sri Lankan domestic workers. The move came after the embassy received numerous complaints about the substandard conditions of the quarters and other facilities provided by the agencies. There are more than 10,000 Sri Lankan domestic workers recruited by local manpower agencies in Qatar.
Chinese workers stage protest
Some 247 Chinese construction workers recently staged a strike to demand a refund of the $3,000 deposit they paid to their Chinese contracting agency as guarantee to get a job in Qatar. They have barricaded themselves inside their labor camp since 5 September following the failure of local authorities and Chinese diplomats to meet their demands. This dispute involved a state-owned contracting agency, which had brought in laborers directly from China.
Filipinos warned against text scam
The Philippine embassy in Qatar has issued a warning about a text message scam that has been victimizing a number of overseas Filipino workers in different countries. The victims allegedly received text messages falsely claiming that they have won big amounts of money in a state-run lottery in the Philippines. Swindlers, using fictitious names or posing as government officials, would then ask them to remit or deposit large amounts of money to a certain bank account before they could collect their winnings.
Qatar gets ready for Smart Cards
Qatar is preparing to replace identity cards being given out by the interior ministry with Smart Cards for its citizens and expatriates. The functions of the new card may later be expanded to include its use as a driver’s license and passport. This is in line with the e-government project in Qatar.
Sources: “Smart cards may soon replace ID cards in Qatar,” The Peninsula, 1 September 2005; Barbara Bibbo, “200 Chinese workers shut themselves in labour camp,” Gulf News, 2 September 2005; “Illegal immigrants on the rise: Report,” The Peninsula, 5 September 2005; “Ministry opens rehabilitation centre for rights abuse victims,” The Peninsula, 6 September 2005; “Unpaid Indian workers demand action,” The Peninsula, 6 September 2005; “Abused maids, kids to get preference at shelter,” The Peninsula, 7 September 2005; “Embassy nod likely to be made must for recruiting Indian workers,” The Peninsula, 7 September 2005; “Filipino expats cautioned by embassy against SMS scam,” The Peninsula, 7 September 2005; “State should sponsor foreign worker,” The Peninsula, 8 September 2005; “200 Pakistanis deported from Qatar in 2004,” The Peninsula, 8 September 2005; “Sri Lankan embassy to inspect transit facilities,” The Peninsula, 12 September 2005; “Qatar: Centre set up for abuse victims,” adnki.com, 13 September 2005