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)