A new law has been prepared regulating the relation between domestic workers and their employers, since the current Labour Law does not cover this important segment of the foreign workforce in the country. The draft law was published by the Al Arab daily yesterday.
According to the draft law, the sponsor must provide suitable accommodation and healthcare to the domestic worker as well as treatment in case the person falls sick or meets with an accident.
Domestic workers should not be forced to work against their dignity, but only in conditions agreed upon by the two sides. They should also not be compelled to work in a way that would insult them either mentally or physically.
The sponsor should pay the worker’s monthly salary agreed upon by the two sides in Qatari riyals at the end of every month or three days after. The payment should be made through the sponsor’s bank account. If the sponsor has no bank account there should be a proof that the salary was paid in full.
The validity of the work licence is not more than five years but the authorities can extend this for another period if the sponsor applies for that.
In order to be granted work permit, a worker should have work visa, be physically fit and free of communicable or infectious diseases, should not be less than 18 years old, and has never been charged by a court in a crime against honour.
In the case of an absconding worker, the sponsor must inform the authorities concerned and take necessary measures within one week from the day of absconding. In case of death of a worker, he sponsor has to bear the cost of sending the body home.
