Non-specialist’ jobs at ministries only for Qataris

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Non-specialist’ jobs at ministries only for Qataris

Sunday,23 March, 2008

ALL the expatriate employees working in “non-specialist” jobs at ministries and public departments will be replaced by Qataris by the end of March next year, as Qatarisation of these jobs would be obligatory, HE the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Sultan Hasan al-Dhabit al-Dousari said yesterday.

We have given a grace period for all government departments employing non-Qataris in non-specialist jobs. It ends on March 31, 2009,” said al-Dousari, in an interview with the monthly programme Lakom Al Qarar, broadcast by Qatar TV yesterday.

“These jobs have to be occupied by Qataris,” the minister stressed.

“We have already created a data bank of some 4,500 Qatari job-seekers. This replacement plan which is supported by the cabinet would create some 3,000 vacancies for unemployed Qataris.”

Al-Dousari said that his ministry would reject any recruitment request whether by a government department or private company as long as there was a Qatari who could do that job.

“Qatarisation of jobs is a top priority for the ministry. We have a mission to increase the participation of the Qataris in the workforce. It is now less than 10%. This is unacceptable.” The minister said that his ministry had signed a deal with the College of North Atlantic to study the requirements of the labour market.

“A new manpower department is established as part of the ministry to provide training to Qataris and find them jobs both at the public and private sectors.” About the private sector, he stressed that his ministry would pressurise the firms to allocate 20% of their jobs to Qataris.

“So far only a few companies have met the target set by the government. But we have recently started negotiations with the banking sector and the companies listed on the DSM (Doha Securities Market). We also included the hotel industry in a list of sectors that has to employ Qataris,” he said.

Asked about the Qatar Airways’ stance on Qatarisation, he said the airline “has failed to provide 20% of jobs” available with the national carrier to Qataris.

“We have made a decision to implement the Qatarisation scheme. Qatar Airways is among the companies the ministry is targeting. We have already sent a letter on this topic to the airline. It is now a must for both the public and private sectors to meet the target of Qatarisation. It is a top priority of the ministry.” To a question, he admitted that there were many Qataris who were employed in the government departments but doing no work at all.

“There are many Qataris on the payroll of government departments. They enjoy all the privileges and allowances without doing any type of work. When I joined the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing (now defunct) in 2004, I found that there were more than 700 Qatari employees who were excess employment. It was a policy and a system at that time. But now the situation is different,” he said. To a question on the Labour Law, the minister revealed that Qatar was considering amending the law to comply with the international and local developments.

“We will receive a team of experts from the World Labour Organisation this month to review the labour laws. In the amended law, the labour committees would be activated and Qatarisation would be given a boost.” He criticised the recently held Qatar Career Fair, saying that some participating firms had furnished “exaggerated figures” of jobs they have provided for Qataris.

“We noticed there was a lack of co-ordination between the ministry and the organisers and we will take care of this in next year’s exhibition,” he added. At the end of the episode, a majority of 82% of the audience voted against the motion, “Are you satisfied about Qatar’s labour policy and employment scenario?”