By Mohammed Osman
DOHA: Licences of 15 manpower agencies were revoked this year by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs for violating the rules governing them, the ministry said yesterday.
The Department of Manpower Agencies at the ministry detected 57 violations of the rules which resulted in cancellation of the licences. It received more than 300 complaints related to manpower agencies and domestic helps this year and all were settled, said Fares Al Kaabi, Head of the department.
In a Snapchat post at Ministry’s website, Al Kaabi urged employers and domestic helps to sign a mutual contract, respect its contents and keep bills of recruitments as evidence in settling any possible disputes.
He also elaborated on the terms and conditions that must be fulfilled by all parties involved in the recruitment of domestic helps. There are four reasons that allow employers to send domestic helps back to manpower agencies, said Al Kaabi.
These are: If the domestic helps refuse to perform his/her duties (which must be documented); if his/her health condition is found unfit; for not fulfilling the requirements; and if the competent authorities refuse to grant a residential permit to the newly recruited worker.
When manpower agencies violate the rules and regulations and the department receives complaints against the office, then the department investigates the case.
If the violations are confirmed, the department seeks an explanation from the agency and if the latter fails to give a satisfactory answer or is found non-cooperative, legal action is taken against them, said Al Kaab.
Legal actions could result in revoking the licence of the agency and returning the domestic worker if found not fulfilling the requirements, he added.
He said work contract must indicate clearly its duration and the fine in case of delay in handing over the domestic help, along with fulfilment of criteria and conditions agreed on.
In case of a delay, the employer has the right to be compensated by the manpower agency in accordance with the fine mentioned in the contract.
The law regulating the work of manpower agencies has left the contract period open to be decided by the employer and the agency but the contract must be respected and implemented properly, Al Kaabi explained.
In case the domestic worker refused to perform the duties he/she came for, then the employer needs to document that as evidence to confirm the violation and this will give the latter the right to being paid back the recruitment expenses. The worker must admit and sign the document and put his/her finger print, said Al Kaabi. The contract signed by the two parties need to be certified by the ministry to become legal.
The Peninsula
