AL XXXXX-QATAR PRISON CELL FOR LADIES

I agree that the company is responsible for the accomodations only if they let in their staff free of charge.

For security reason I agree with you but not to the extent that mgnt will knock your door at the middle of your sleep at mid night just for the so called company policy spot checking or inspection inside your private room which you are paying for 20% of your little salary.

 Try to put yourself in their shoe...

They will be very happy if they move out from "Big Brother" accomodations anyway they are paying for it.

They are planning to do that actually but their concern is that if they go to labour office in a group of 10 or more they are afraid they  might charged by qatar authority of illegal protest or something like that case, for time being they are asking some legal advice from anyone who could help...unfortuntely I'm not a legal expert so I  can only help them by posting this here in QL.

I cant imagine the scenario if all of the staff of these Als_ _ _ _ company will come out to complain in labour office. From admin staff (aside from top mgnt) down to warehouse staff, to sales staff from differnt stores in big malls here in Qatar doesnt have a copy of the contract. Try to ask one in the malls...top coffee shop like S_ _ _ B_ _ _ _, fashion Dhs Next , Top HMMMM resto Tai Chessss, etccccccccc

Thats some good info shared 

YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!

The company is responsible for the accommodation and for it's workers.

I pick up a maid at her accommodation now and again to help me at home sometimes, I have seen boys lurking around the accommodation and girls being picked up there too.

This is a Qatari residential area and this kind of thing does not go unnoticed by the resdients may they may feel disturbed.

If the company rules say they have to be back by midnight it means just that as many of the girls have to get up between 4-5 am to go to work and if they do not have enough sleep they are unable to do their job properly.

Signing in and out in a log book nothing new it is a protection for the girls themselves and the company in case any of the girls go missing - it would not be the first time and generally the guard is responsible for this also to report late comers. It is not completely new that unmarried girls do get pregnant here so it is also a risk for the company.

If they are living in an accomodation and they come late, they will also disturb the sleep of others living and sleeping in the same room.

The accommodation deduction of 20% should be checked upon if this was in the original contract that was signed. If they don't have a contract the company is obliged to give every employee a copy of the contract so they should ask for this.

I guess there are a lot of complications if they go to court. They will even have to move out of the accommodation......

Get some legal advise and be safe 

YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!

I believe it is illegal here for a worker not to have a copy of the contract that they signed. So I suggest they go straight to the Labour dept who should be able to advise them. The company they work for will have had to submit copies of the contract to the labour department. The easiest way you can advise them get them to go to the Labour Dept as soon as possible, it is located next to the American Hospital (on traffic lights up from Ramada junction going towards the airport)

Thanks  for the advice ringohiqups, but I doubt they would do such protest due to the law of not allowing any workers to do such thing. Anyhow I did advice them to call the police instead the next time it will happen. Thats the easiest way I can advice to them...

Thanks for your time and advice Alicat but unfortunately they dont have a copy of their labor contract either...

I suggest they go to the Human Rights Office here or the Labour dept. with a copy of thier contract to see where it says their employer can raid their accommodation and set up 'Big Brother' cameras.

Human Rights is such a grey area in Qatar unfortunately. This has to change as the Rest of the World is watching Qatar regarding this very issue. Qatar is near the top on various lists for the evidence of slavery, lack of workers rights, and on various lists and charts that  the U.N. compile etc......

Companies bring in a labour force, but do not give them the basic human rights and then they treat them as sub-human. It is disgusting.

If the company was that concerned about illicit behaviour etc and they had evidence, or feel they had a case then why did they themselves not contact the Police? 

They were obviously just acting on rumours as they would not like their company to have a court case etc cause it 'looks bad' on them.

In Qatar its all about public image, does not matter how a work force is treated, as long as the company has a positive image in the community. Lets hope if this is true then now that company has a very dented public image.

If it happens another time get the girls to take pictures as evidence.... Maybe a little difficult I know and it too is a grey area.

Lets hope that it does not happen again.

ive heard of this companies bringin ladies here and subjectin them to this type of treatments ...this is slavery bottomline.... my advise is that this ladies should get together and protest this type of treatment they are given... they should not be scared of leaving the country if it comes to this, but at least fight for their rights... grown women should not be treated in this manner... i wish you ladies good luck.. pls fight for your rights always, no matter what........

XXXXXXX Company in Qatar to my knowledge has no power to search rooms of their staff even if they found out that the report was true because they are paying for the rent of the said room. Only the Qatar Police can do such inspection I think...

Mods note: Company name removed

Sounds scary!  I hope they remain safe and sound.  It sounds like people were too suspicious about these ladies.  I would have thought them innocent until proven guilty.