Qatar law to give better protection to Pinoy HSWs: DFA

“This will certainly lead to the recognition, promotion, and protection of the rights of Filipinos and other migrant household service workers in Qatar,” said Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a statement. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Philippine government on Wednesday commended the enactment of Qatar’s new employment law, noting the legislation would provide better protection to more than 50,000 Filipino household service workers in the Gulf state.

“This will certainly lead to the recognition, promotion, and protection of the rights of Filipinos and other migrant household service workers in Qatar,” said Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a statement.

Qatar enacted its “Domestic Employment Law” which has been expanded to cover household service workers and provides them with some degree of legal protection, the DFA said.

Under the law, household service workers are now to work for only 10 hours per day, six days a week and are entitled to annual vacations, paid sick leaves and guaranteed breaks for meals and worship.

“This is certainly a cause for celebration as this new law would benefit more than 50,000 Filipino household service workers who did not enjoy these benefits before,” said DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola.

Ambassador to Doha Alan Timbayan said about 246,000 overseas Filipinos work in Qatar, making the Philippines the third country of origin of migrant workers there.