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PH, Qatar Convene Joint Committee Meeting on Labor Matters

Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Deputy Minister Mohammad Hassan Al Obaidly (fifth from left) and Labor and Employment Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano (sixth from left) are flanked by their respective delegation members as they pose for a photo. (Doha PE photo)

DOHA 28 February 2019 – The Philippines and Qatar successfully convened the fourth Philippines-Qatar Joint Committee Meeting on Labor Matters (PH-Qatar JCMLM) on 19-20 February 2019, which aims to constructively discuss labor concerns and issues affecting Filipino expatriate workers in Qatar, including how to further improve their welfare and protect their rights.

Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA) hosted the visiting delegation from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to the two-day meeting.

DOLE and MADLSA covered agenda items such as the full implementation of Qatar’s Wage Protection System, joint bilateral mechanism on labor dispute resolution, minimum standard for employment contracts of household service workers, clarifications on the abolition of exit permit for expatriate workers, clarifications on the implementation of Qatar’s Workers’ Support Fund and Insurance Fund, set up of Qatar’s visa processing centers in the Philippines, and initiatives in combating human trafficking.

The 4th PH-Qatar JCMLM culminated in the ceremonial signing of the Records of Discussion, which will serve as the take-off point for the next JCMLM to be hosted by the Philippines. The 3rd PH-QA JCMLM was held in Manila on 9-10 April 2017.

Also joining as part of the Philippine delegation were Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan, OWWA Deputy Administrator Josefino I. Torres, POEA Deputy Administrator Aristodes R. Ruaro, DOLE-ILAB Director Alice Q. Vicperas, Labor Attaché David Des T. Dicang, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Benjamin A. Celedio Jr., and Welfare Officer Evelyn Laranang.

The Qatar MADLSA contingent were also composed of Director Saleh Said Al-Shawi of International Cooperation Department, Director Fahad Dafer Al-Dosari of the International Labor Relations Department, Director Fawaz Mohanned Al-Rayis of the Recruitment Department, and Director Abdullah Mubarak Al-Dosari of the Labor Relations Department. END

Labor and Employment Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano and Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Deputy Minister Mohammad Hassan Al Obaidly sign the Records of Discussion of the 4th PH-QA JCMLM as Ambassador Alan L. Timbayan witnesses the signing ceremony. (Doha PE photo)

Labor and Employment Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano and Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Deputy Minister Mohammad Hassan Al Obaidly shake hands after singing the Records of Discussion of the 4th PH-QA JCMLM. (Doha PE photo)

PH Ambassador to Qatar Welcomes Gilas Pilipinas

PHOTO: The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Mr. Yeng Guiao and executives and members of Team Gilas’ management paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in Doha before their game.

Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan, together with Consul General Roussel R. Reyes, welcomed the coaches and members of the Philippine National Basketball Team.

Gilas Pilipinas is in Doha for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers where they played against Qatar’s national basketball team on 21 February 2019 at the Al Gharafa Sports Club, Doha.

The Filipino Community and the Embassy in Doha were excited and eager to support the national team during the game and wished the players, coaches and management all the best in their upcoming games. (Doha PE photos)

PH-Qatar Joint Committee Discusses Labor Matters

The Philippine delegation during their courtesy visit at the Philippine Embassy in Doha with Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan and other Embassy officials. (Doha PE photos)

DOHA 21 February 2019 – Aiming to generate positive discussions between the two countries concerning the promotion and protection of worker’s rights and welfare, a Philippine delegation from the Department of Labor and Employment arrived in Doha for the fourth Philippines-Qatar Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Labor Matters held at the Al Huda Tower in Doha, Qatar on 19-20 February 2019. It.

Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan, together with Consul General Roussel R. Reyes, Vice Consul Benjamin A. Celedio Jr. and Labor Attaché David Des T. Dicang, welcomed the delegation.

The delegation was headed by Labor and Employment Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano. Joining Undersecretary Arellano are Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Deputy Administrator Aristodes R. Ruaro, Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Josefino I. Torres, OWWA Director Alice Q. Visperas, and Ms. Liezel S. Villamorel of DOLE-International Labor Affairs Bureau. END

For more information, visit www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar/.