Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in Doha has been receiving an average of 12 to 15 contracts of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) for verification daily during the past three months, labour attaché Leopoldo De Jesus told Gulf Times.
“This is an indication that HSWs are being deployed to Qatar,” he said. With increasing demands coming from different families and employers, De Jesus disclosed that some recruitment agencies have been applying for job orders to supply the required workers.
Asked about their salaries, he said employers have agreed to give “good salaries and benefits” to the new batch of workers recruited from the Philippines. De Jesus is expecting more HSWs will be coming to Qatar during 2014.
“Many nationalities and Qatari families have been looking for Filipino HSWs in the past months and I am glad that we were able to supply their needs,” he said.
Ambassador Crescente Relacion earlier told Gulf Times that the number of Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar has been decreasing since last year. This was partly because of the Philippine government’s imposition of a $400 minimum wage for Filipina housemaids.
He noted that the move had also affected other categories of OFWs who wanted to work in the country, noting a reduction in the number of visas available for applicants in the Philippines and those who were seeking employment locally.
De Jesus also vouched for the Filipino HSW’s capability and skills to perform tasks given to them by their employers.
“We all know how hardworking Filipinos are, especially our HSWs, who have been trained well back home,” he stressed. “Employers could also easily communicate with them because they understand and speak English.”
He also allayed fears of “contract switching” saying that all those who have been deployed recently seemed to be contented with their salaries and present conditions.
Some have also confirmed that their sponsors have been treating them well, complying to what was agreed in their contracts.
He also cited the decreasing number of distressed OFWs (mostly HSWs) sheltered at the POLO located at the back of the Hamad hospital.
From more than 100 inDecember last year, the number fell to at least 30 this year in the same month. An average of one to two workers are being repatriated every week although some cases may take sometime to be processed. In co-ordination with the Deportation Centre, De Jesus hopes to repatriate more next month.
He also lauded the help extended by various Filipino groups and individuals to distressed OFWs.