ONLY overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are paid below the newly implemented minimum wage in Qatar will benefit from the new policy, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a statement, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III stressed that those already getting compensation that is higher than what is prescribed under Law No. 17 will no longer benefit from it.
Under Qatar’s Law No. 17 series of 2020, all workers may soon demand for a monthly basic wage of 1,000 Qatari Riyal (QR) equivalent to US$274 or P13,325.00.
The new legislation also requires employers in Qatar to grant their workers an additional 500 QR for accommodation and 200 QR for food, bringing the minimum total gross salary to 1,800 QR equivalent to US$494 or P24,000.00.
It will take effect six months after being published in Qatar on Sept. 9, 2020.
Implementation preparations
International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) director Alice Visperas welcomed the development. Visperas told BusinessMirror in a phone interview that underpaid OFWs “will now be able to demand for higher salaries, which is assured under the new law.”
Bello said Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA) will be updating the employment contract of workers, who will be covered by the new minimum wage.
Some employers may still opt not to comply with the new policy, thus, Visperas, said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Qatar is bracing itself for a possible spike in the number of complaints from OFWs.
“They [POLO] continue their monthly meeting with affected Filipino community, with the employers and with the FRA (foreign recruitment agencies) to resolve issues regarding salary and future complaints from our OFWs,” Visperas said.
Employers who fail to pay their workers’ wages and provide adequate accommodations will face stricter penalties Law No. 17 series of 2020.