Qatar forms panel to address labour issues

Manama: Qatar is to set up a permanent joint committee that will deal with labour related issues, Qatari media reported.

The panel will be made up of officials from the ministries of interior and labour and representatives of manpower recruitment agencies and will focus on easing the work of the recruitment agencies and addressing the issue of reducing the costs involved in recruiting domestic helpers, Gulf Times said.

The committee will work in collaboration with similar bodies in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries and benefit from their expertise.

Qatar employment agencies have been looking into hiring domestic helpers from new areas, arguing they needed to confront the spiraling costs in traditional countries.