GOVPH

Undersecretary Arriola Pitches for Migration Agenda, Commends Qatar for Labor Reforms

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola meets with Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary General Dr. Ahmed. (online source)

DOHA 20 October 2018 —  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) highlighted the importance of the migration agenda it commended Qatar’s positive steps during in addressing issues related to migration. 

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola stressed the importance of the migration agenda as she met with officials from Qatar government during her four-day visit to the Gulf country from 11 to 14 October 2018.

Undersecretary Arriola was in the country to meet with Qatar government officials, Philippine Embassy in Doha officials, and Filipino Community leaders in view of recent reforms made by Qatar on the labor front, which will stand to benefit the Philippines as a labor-sending country.

The Undersecretary mentioned in her meetings that the Philippines has been active in the negotiation on the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), and called on Qatar for its support as the GCM convenes anew in Marrakesh, Morocco in December 2018. 

Undersecretary Arriola explained that President Rodrigo Duterte attaches great importance to the cause of Filipino migrants in view of their significant contribution to the Philippine economy.

  “The remittances of our 10 million Overseas Filipinos across the globe account for 10 percent of our total Gross Domestic Product,” the Undersecretary underlined. 

In keeping with the objectives of the GCM, the Undersecretary asked Qatar for availability and flexibility of pathways, such as an amnesty, which would allow for regularization of undocumented Filipino migrants in the country.

She thanked and commended Qatar for major labor reforms, such as the abolition of exit permit for 95 percent of the total expatriate workers in Qatar, the establishment of visa processing centers in labor-sending countries such as the Philippines, where capture of biometrics data, medical examination, issuance of Residency Permits, and signing of employment contracts will be done before workers are deployed to Qatar, and putting up of government-sponsored shelters for women, among other reforms.

During her visit, Undersecretary Arriola met with Secretary General of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hamadi, Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Eissa Saad Al Jaffali Al Nuaimi, Director General for Public Security of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, and MOI’s Search and Follow-Up Department Director Brigadier General Abdullah Jaber Al-Labda.

Joining the Undersecretary in the meetings were Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan, Vice Consul Benjamin A. Celedio Jr, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Principal Assistant Laser Blitz B. Sumagaysay, and Office of the Secretary Adviser Peter John V. de la Fuente. END

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

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola meets with Qatari Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Eissa Saad Al Jaffali Al Nuaimi. (online source)

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola meets with Director General for Public Security Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi. (online source)