Manama: Qatar is planning to frame a law stipulating the rights and duties of domestic helpers in January.
The new regulations, which will also address the recruitment of domestic helpers, will be part of Qatar's National Strategy, Ebrahim Al Ebrahim, economic adviser to Qatar's Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, said.
Several international organisations have been urging Gulf states to bring domestic helpers under the ambit of their labour laws to ensure their rights are not violated.
Significant role
The new national strategy focuses on key social and economic issues and views a strong and cohesive family as the basis of a harmonious and progressive society.
Domestic helpers have a very significant role in families and should be given their due, Al Ebrahim said. He also indicated that women's empowerment would be one of the pillars of the national strategy, set to be unveiled early next year, Qatari daily The Peninsula reported on Tuesday.
Qatari women would need to have rights on par with men, including in education and employment, and that would only be possible through a strong back-up at home in the form of supportive helpers, he said.
"Qatar's National Vision believes in a strong family and in equality between men and women," he said. In families where both the husband and wife work, domestic helpers have a highly significant role, he added.
Workforce evolution
In the context of the foreign workforce, Al Ebrahim said future projects would be capital- and technology-intensive and not labour-intensive, suggesting that the large number of unskilled labourers present in the country could be gradually replaced by highly skilled workers.
"Since these workers would be getting higher salaries and perks they would be in a position to sponsor their families."
