Qatar- Expatriate workers remit over QR28.9bn in past six months

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Doha: Qatar has employed over two million expatriate workers from more than 180 countries whose total remittances for the past six months amounted to QR 28. 9bn (about $8bn) , Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi said yesterday.

Qatar has not imposed any type of taxes on the earnings of expatriate workers allowing them to freely remit their money to their home countries, he added. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the Minister said that the ministry has provided with 11 self service machines operating in 11 languages in government services complexes to help workers file complaints against their employers, in addition to a hotline operating round-the-clock.

He said that the ministry has plans to increase the number of these machines to 100 that will be installed in labour camps, he added.

'Expatriate workers are our partners in the country's development. Therefore Qatar is keen to implement world standard rules and specifications to protect their rights and health, living condition, occupational health and healthy accommodation, said the Minister. The Wage Protection System (WPS) is another means of protecting workers' rights introduced by the ministry. 'Today we have labour cities some of them accommodating more than 5000 workers enjoying health, sport and entertainment facilities, said the minister.

The ministry helped train workers on computers, how to use internet and distributed videos in 10 languages showing how to use ATM machines.