WUNRN
Gender - Domestic Workers -
Trafficking + in Qatar
QATAR:
PANEL
SEEKS TO HELP DOMESTIC WORKERS
The Peninsula - 11 September, 2008
The National Office for Combating Human Trafficking (NOCHT) has launched an
initiative to resolve the grievances of domestic helpers and their disputes
with their employers, in collaboration with the embassies of the countries from
where the workers are hired.
Mariam Al Malki, NOCHT Director, said the office had planned the initiative in
cooperation with government and non-governmental bodies as part of its effort
to combat human trafficking.
"NOCHT is conducting periodic meetings with members of diplomatic missions
of major domestic worker-exporting countries, like Indonesia, Philippines,
India, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia. The aim is to discuss ways of resolving
prevailing conflicts between the domestic helpers and their sponsors," she
said.
Al Malki said the initiative can help find temporary solutions to the
increasing problems between the workers and their employers, at least until a
law governing the relationship between them comes into force.
NOCHT recently held a consultative meeting with a representative from the
Indonesian Embassy at the former's premises. At the meeting, attended by Al
Malki, the difficulties Indonesian housemaids face, such as the recruitment
process, medical check-ups and lack of familiarity with the local culture, were
discussed. The two parties looked at ways of resolving these problems.
Riyadhi Assirdid, Consular Attache at the Indonesian Embassy, told The
Peninsula yesterday the meeting between the diplomat and NOCHT was aimed at
easing the difficulties faced by housemaids. "I can say the result of the
discussion was positive," he said.
The employers believe educating the housemaids about local cultural values can
go a long way in preventing actions that clash with Qatari social norms. The
embassy officials pointed to the need for covering this segment with a law to
ensure proper protection for the maids from various forms of exploitation.
There are 17,000 housemaids and 4,000 skilled and non-skilled workers from
Indonesia in Qatar. Out of the 300 complaints received by the embassy so far
this year, most were from housemaids who had suffered sexual and physical abuse.
The remaining complaints mostly related to delay or non-payment of wages,
Assirdid said.
Till date there are no laws here that govern the working hours, remuneration
and working conditions of domestic workers, who include, aside from maids,
cooks, gardeners, drivers and helpers.
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