We are not GUESTS in Qatar!

I dont like doing compliment for myself but I am always right man ;) dont hang on my nick :F

I am with you girls on this, and agree that if you wanna whine about people being exploited then perhaps we could all put our money where are mouths are. I work in a great place and we take collections all the time for such people. I also think that we expats make a small fortune here, and I dont know about anyone else but my son actually thought you could just stick a plastic card in the wall and get money. I encouraged him to do fundraisers for the laborers, he has changed his views quite abruptly.

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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

Home is home... for every one I guess.

We are here to earn , you fetch much more than what we can back home, you deny?? you lie.

Guest, guest worker.. big BS

Hired hands to work or serve.. we are servants.. Everyone lives here on dreams of those days we make enough and get back home.

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Every society is judged by how

it treats it's least fortunates.

Definition of guest

. One who is a recipient of hospitality at the home or table of another.

2. One to whom entertainment or hospitality has been extended by another in the role of host or hostess, as at a party.

3. One who pays for meals or accommodations at a restaurant, hotel, or other establishment; a patron.

4. A distinguished visitor to whom the hospitality of an institution, city, or government is extended.

5. A visiting performer, speaker, or contestant, as on a radio or television program.

6. Zoology A commensal organism, especially an insect that lives in the nest or burrow of another species.

v. guest·ed, guest·ing, guests

Definition of Visitor

visitor

Noun

a person who visits a person or place.

I prefer to be a guest, in a more permanent basis. Instead of a Visitor on temporary time.

The Red_Pope is the next goodwill Ambassador to the UN.

Alexa, it's good to know that there are some good hearts around...and I know that there are many volunteers who do wonderful deeds. I think the sheer scale of the problem is a major issue, but arguably so is the matter of poverty worldwide. I've seen so much waste and extravagence in my life so far and at the other end of the spectrum I've seen people wondering where their next meal is going to come from. Sometimes it makes me feel so helpless...

The irony is that the labourers are willing to suffer appalling conditions because of the love they have for their families back home. They will endure almost anything in order to be able to send money back home, even if it means virtually starving themselves. It is truly humbling to realise that. Yes, we sit here in our relative "luxury" surrounded by our family (in some lucky cases) but yes, Supernurse, I think we do have a moral obligation to help out where we see fit but maybe that comes from the way I was brought up and from having experienced life in many cultures, I don't know.

I get to see my mom and son on webcam and chat with my daughter everyday.

So!Give up your luxuries and give something to them!

Many workers would love to go back to see their families, their wives, their children, their parents, their siblings, etc. just once a year but many have to wait at least two years before the company pays to be able to do this. Someone I know is given only QRS 200 A MONTH for food. No wonder the labourers are so skinny...

I mean how many workers would take up the offer...

Seriously.. I would pay for an airfare home for a labourer if he wanted to get back to his / her family..

Its not a matter of just donating money to the labourers, how do you know that people here dont do this, just because they dont advertise it, doesnt mean they dont, but even so there will always be another case of someone else suffereing the same fate here, its an viscious cycle that wont stop unless things are changed legally. Talking about it continously is a good thing, because maybe just maybe someday with all this talking things might Change. when these issues cease to be discussed, then that will be a sad day..

I couldn't give a toss!

Brit, do you mean how many workers would take up the offer to be flown home? Or how many affluent people would take up the offer to pay for a labourer to go home?

I would go with SuperNurse..

Let's each "adopt" a worker and offer to pay for his / her fare home as a gesture of humanity.

I wonder how many would actually take up the offer ..

Yes, Supernurse, helping out a poor soul if we're able IS very altruistic. Do you?

my opinion is that if you blart on about how hard up people are then give them money!! they don't need your sympathy! Its the same as that bloody Geldof! If he gave all his millions to the starving instead of staying in his panther lined sleeping bag instead of bleating he could actually make a difference!

Rami, it's simply the hypocrisy that upsets me. Yes, of course, menial labour is paid lower wages - that happens in the First World too - but it's the EXPLOITATION that appears to be so rife in the Middle East that many people find upsetting.

Azi, I am so, so sorry to hear that. It actually brings tears to my eyes to read your story, especially when I hear of separation from your own children. I visited the extended family of the Sri Lankan chap when I was in his country and made sure they were comfortable (they lost everything in the tsunami), and I helped rescue his sister from a cruel employer in Beirut. I know it wasn't much, but I try to do what I can to help.

I kind of agree.

Most westerners are here to get a salary larger than what was available in their home country.

The reason the salary is higher is because other people in the food chain are paid much, much less.

Laborers, doctors, restaurant staff - all sorts of people at the lower end of the salary scale are paid much less than they would be in the developed world. Consequently high end salaries are that much higher.

If people did have such grave moral concerns about the plight of unskilled and low skilled workers, they should get on a plane and go home, or, as Supernurse says, pay some of their own generous earnings to the poor.

It's ridiculous that people in this country can whine that the poor are underpaid, without realising that the money saved by not paying a decent salary to the lower skilled workers is what helps keep their own salary inflated.

Rami, I know people who are paying $10,000 a month in rent over here! I even went for lunch at such a house recently and was surprised that it wasn't a palace but instead was a four-bedroomed house in the middle of what resembled a building site in Lusail Lagoon.

coz I only get 26-30 days vacation after a year of employment and since i changed employers, I haven't been home for almost 3 years (on Feb 11 next year, to be exact). meaning, I haven't seen my parents and my two kids for 3 years...and the plane fare is almost QAR4000 which is equivalent to roughly Php49,000(Philippine pesos).

And since I recently employed, my calendar is back to zero so hopefully i'll get my chance sometime December next year...

Good questions Britexpat.

What idiot wouldn't do the maths before coming?

And what idiot would stay, month after month, if they were unhappy with their financial situation here?

They only have themselves to blame. Clearly we aren't talking about laborers who were duped into coming here on fraudulent contracts, you are referring to people paying $7000/month for accomodation, so they should be well educated people with a better understanding of cost of living pressures in other countries.

Supernurse - "human rights and all that crap". Sorry, you've lost me.

Maybe because they THOUGHT they would benefit but were duped, like many of the workers over here. For example, the Sri Lankan I know was promised DOUBLE the salary, good living conditions, a return trip home every year, etc. but it was all lies and he cannot obtain a NOC to join another company, or leave the country until his term of service is up. The contract is valid only one-way it seems! Some are stuck here...especially those who've taken out loans.

Why don't the PC brigade just bugger off or grin and bear it! Its ok all those types whining on about human rights and all that crap while they're enjoying sips of sherry looking forward to the festive period after spending huge amounts on expensive gifts...if you have a problem with it...give a months wages to the people you so called 'care' about!!

Why would anyone leave their own country if they didn't get any benefit from it ???

alexa lol!

Wrongman, not everyone is here because of the money. Some were better of back home where they didn't have to pay $7,000 a month in rent as some do over here!!

Wrongman, you are so right man..

Why are you a prisoner ?? You are fortunate that you can leave anytime you wish .. Why live a life of impronment?

hey come on , nobody can find life style or laws such as their own land. if say some of us would be better ;) anyway 2 things definitely absurd and bizarre , taking permission to be able to fly

second one is how can it be 5000 qr (1500usd) rent of a ruin home or hut

enjoy Qatar :)

Rami, I can see it might seem like semantics but I commented because it's the first time in my 25 year experience of being an expat (all over the world) that I have seen expats labelled "guests" and I think it's a complete misnomer..

lol Alexa...

wht most of u forget is tht there r ppl in this country tht have lived here for more than 40yrs, their children were born here, so r those ppl guests too?

but for some others, it's one month EVERY TWO years, if the contract of employment states.

Without a doubt I agree however, often they are not informed properly either.

azilana7037

Now I do wonder why you would feel like that.

The word guest is just the word that is thrown about.

I just think it's a bit myopic to object to the use of a particular word because it doesn't literally mean that.

All it means, in my simplistic opinion, is that you are in someone else's home.

You can slice it up whichever way you want, which would make for little more than a semantic debate.

I feel I'm a prisoner here...with a one month probation every year...

The OWNERS of the companies should also take responsibility...

Rami ;-) Funny how interpretations differ!

Canarybird, yes, often the Middle Men are responsible but seem to get away with their crimes against humanity. It makes me feel both sad and angry.

Too true if you live abroad for many years it is difficult to settle again and I don't mean just living in the Middle East.

However, I do wonder at the word 'suffer' and in which context you bring this considering the very high salaries and amenities plus plus plus that many expats enjoy here in Doha.

Yes if you take the term that the Germans use "Gastarbeiter" it means just that guest worker.

Voyageress - this is

this is a never ending story about the labour camps in the Industrial Area and other camps around Doha. Meanwhile the Ministry of Labour is trying to improve the situation but it is not always easy to find culprit who is responsible for the misery. It takes time to change things and of course we have to go back to the agents recruiting guest workers or labourers and the Managers or so called Managers of the companies.

Rami, if you look back at all the times the word "guest" was mentioned in the context of being an expat here, I think you'll find that many different nationalities posted this description about many different nationalities living here!

Next thing you'll be saying that 'Family' day isn't really for families.

Or pointing out the most 'bachelors' are in fact married.

I don't think it's wise to take the things that people say here so literally.

They just use the word 'guest' to mean that you are here at their pleasure.

Stop reading so much into it.

English isn't the first language of many Qatari nationals, so why get all hung up on deconstructing the true meaning of the word.

Or "guest slave" in some cases, Mandi..

I believe the term "guest" is actually a shortened name for "guest worker" which is more accurate.

mandi

Once you are bitten by the Expat bug, its hard to return home for many.

Also, whilst many "suffer", they are also unwilling to forego the riches and/or lifestyle the work brings..

Brit, I'm not sure why either.

britexpat, whatever happened to being faithful to the company you work for eh?.....Don't know how Qatar can be any different to other ME countries where people stay for years!!

You are ofcourse correct. People should be allowed to leave as and when they feel like they have had enough..

My only complaint is with Expats who come here on contract for a fixed period and then expect to stay for a lifetime.. Why ?

Brit, many come on an open contract. Some come here because they are given false promises and don't realise that basic Human Rights often don't apply. A Sri Lankan chap I know signed a "contract" which was deemed worthless. He is now sleeping in a tiny room with seven other men and had no running water for three days. Their salaries aren't being paid according to their "contract" either. And they are not allowed to leave. If they complain, they'll be locked up in jail and left to rot. It won't even reach the newspapers.

brit thats true, but sometimes you start a job and theres unforseen cirucmstances that force you to resign, in most countries you are free to do that, here your fate is in the hands of your employer...

I agree that theer are "pecularities".. However, the fcat is that in the majority of cases , we come here after signing a contract to work for an organziation . Once that contract is completed, we should leave... shouldn't we ??

As a long-term expat I was curious because it is the first time I'd been labelled a "guest" in a country other than when travelling, of course.

The ones who can choose to leave are guests, but voyaress is right, the ones who want to leave and are froced to stay arent guests, they are victims of the laws here.

Supernurse, exactly my point. No-one would suggest that the cleaning lady is a "guest" in your home, no matter what time period was agreed.

How about those who come for permanence but want to leave early and aren't allowed?! I always afford my guests the flexibility to leave as they wish. We are by definition employees brought in to fulfil the demand between what this country wants and what it can provide by itself. It is a symbiotic relationship.

We aren't guests we're here to work....is that a guest? I'm not sure....

We are "Guests" because we come for an agreed short visit.. The problem is that many believe that it should lead to permanence..