By Mohammed Osman
DOHA: The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLS) is currently working on preparing a uniform contract for domestic workers in preparation for the implementation of the amended labour law in December this year.
The draft of the proposed contract was discussed recently at the second meeting of a committee established recently for grading manpower agencies and to find solutions to problems related to the recruitment.
The move is meant to avoid problems related to the delay in wage payment and granting of weekend leave etc which will be specified in the contract.
Employers of domestic workers will be urged to transfer their salaries indicated in the contract to a bank account of the worker or get invoices from them saying salaries have been paid on time, according to Arabic daily Al Sharq.
A tweet saying “soon there will be a new contract form for domestic workers which includes salary, leave and transfer of salary to bank account” recently went viral in the social media, leading to a hot discussion among nationals. Some expressed surprise at “how the relations with a housemaid, whose duties are very similar to a mother at home, will be managed through a contract, its terms and conditions.”
Some welcomed the idea and said they are ready to pay higher salaries for domestic workers if the problem of their accommodation, food, medical treatment and transport are solved, in addition to taking the burden of recruitment charges.
A citizen said employers are wasting money and time to train and get licence for domestic helps and all these costs are not counted and needed to be mentioned in the contract. Transfer of wage to a bank or getting a receipt signed by the worker is much safer for the employer, said another commentator.
An official from the ministry, when contacted, said: “Until now nothing has been issued officially in this regard and I am reading similar discussions in the social media.”
Panel to resolve housemaid hiring concerns
Reduction of domestic workers’ recruitment charges, speeding up of the recruitment process, and increase in the probation period, in addition to adherence to recruitment contract, were among the issues discussed at the meeting held at Qatar Chamber (QC).
Working hours and weekend leave are the major points driving the discussion and a cause of concern for employers, along with laying down means of settling disputes between the two parties in the absence of a special law regulating relations between domestic workers and employers.
“We are trying to find a balanced solution for all parties, manpower agencies, domestic workers and the employers, particularly regarding the hike in recruitment charges, delay in the recruitment process in the country of origin, and probation period. These are the controversial issues the committee has been formed to set up rules in line with the labour law and the law regulating entry, exit and residence of expatriates in Qatar,” said a member of the committee requesting anonymity.
He added that the government has decided to set up a special committee after concerns were raised by citizens on social networking sites and local media about recruitment charges, delays and probation period.
The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MADLSA, QC and manpower agencies, according to a press release issued by QC recently.
There is a very high demand for domestic helps of some nationalities, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. For instance, recruitment of housemaids from Indonesia, who are in high demand in Qatar and other GCC countries, faces delay.
According to information received from one manpower agency, recruitment from Indonesia costs QR15,200 per domestic worker and there are agencies who charge up to QR17,000, depending on the commission of the agent in Indonesia. Because of the rise in demand during Ramadan, the charges have significantly increased.
Another manager of a Grade A manpower agency pointed out that recruitment charges for housemaids from Bangladesh and Philippines are normal – QR8200 for Bangladesh and QR11,900 for Philippines.
There is no change in the salary of domestic workers, housemaids in particular, the only significant change being in the cost of recruitment and the delays in the arrival of maids which is one of the major concerns of customers, he added.
The Philippines, Indonesia and Bangladesh are the most expensive compared to other South Asian countries. Asked why Filipina domestics remain hot favourites of Qatari families, the manager pointed out that it’s because of their education and training in household chores, and they are hardworking and disciplined.
The Peninsula
