Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) looking forward to getting employed as household service workers (HSWs) or domestic helpers in Qatar, take note. Some changes in Qatar law is set to have a direct impact on foreign employees as well as their employers.
As posted by the OFW Abroad blog, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs have mentioned the following changes regarding hiring a domestic worker.
Especially you are headed to Qatar for the first time, being aware about these new policies will be for your best advantage.
- A contract with the recruitment agency that will provide the HSW should be duly signed ahead of time.
- Employers should make sure that they have carefully read the contract. They should likewise have a copy of it plus they need to have copies of bills if they ever make any advance payments.
- The contract has to be approved by the concerned department at the Labour of Ministry.
- The contract should include a fixed term and guarantee (probation) period, which is 3 months. This will start the day the HSW arrives at the employer’s residence.
- The employer has the responsibility to ensure that the HSW will undergo a medical check-up within two weeks after arrival. This will confirm whether the individual is physically healthy.
- If the HSW do not arrive on time in the country as expected, the employer has the right to demand compensation.
- An HSW can be sent back to his or her home country within the probation period under the following conditions:
- He or she is found medically unfit.
- He or she failed to fulfill her duties and responsibilities.
- One of the parties failed violated the terms of the contract.
- The concerned authority declined to process the residency permit for any reason.
Work closely with your recruitment agency and your potential employer to make sure that none of these policies are violated.
via: poea