The Peninsula 

Doha, Nov 23: An Indian worker who is forced out of job without any fault of his in Qatar would now be entitled to his salary and emoluments for the full contract period of his employment.

This has been made possible, thanks to a new agreement — an additional protocol to all the already existing bilateral pact on the regulation of employment of Indian manpower of 1985 — that was signed by Qatar’s Minister of Labour and Social Affairs H E Sultan bin Hassan Al Dhabit Al Dosari and Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. Sultan bin Hassan is on a two-day visit to India.

With over 300,000 workers, Indians constitute the largest expatriate population in Qatar, whose booming economy is fuelling a massive construction growth and consequent demand for manpower.

While India had signed a bilateral agreement with Qatar on protection for welfare of workers in 1985, it did not cover categories of domestic helps like drivers, cooks and housemaids. This loophole has been amended in the Protocol. “This agreement shows the determination of Qatar and India that personal interests of workers from India are protected in every way,” said Ravi.

He added that this Qatari counterpart had informed him that the new domestic legislation to protect domestic and unorganised sector workers would be completed by end of this year. As per the earlier 1985 agreement, a Joint Committee was set up to discuss mutual labour issues.

Now, under the additional protocol, the six-member panel’s mandate has been enlarged, with more frequent biannual meetings.

“We are looking for more Indian workers, because they are preferred by employers,” said Sultan bin Hassan, adding that the agreement will help all the concerned parties, that include the workers and the employers.

The number of Indian workers migrating to Qatar has been on an upswing. In 2005, the protector of emigrants granted clearance to 50,222 Indians to travel to Qatar, which increased to 76,324 in 2006.

Lauding the agreement as a welcome development and one that would immensely benefit low-income Indian expatriates here, Indian ambassador Dr Gorge Joseph told The Peninsula that the proposed joint panel would meet twice a year and its decisions will be binding.

"So if there are problems related to the protocol's implementation, they can be looked into and sorted out by the committee," he said. Asked how soon he thought the panel could see the light of day, Joseph stated: "As soon as possible." As for membership, the ambassador said it was up to the governments of the two countries to decide who would be on these panels.

In reply to a question if the Open House slated to be held at the embassy here on November 30 would discuss this issue, Joseph said: "We will inform people and get their views so the joint panel can be told of the problems and issues."