The Peninsula

Doha, Jul 22: Private companies are now being asked by the authorities concerned to hire workers from countries such as Myanmar and Vietnam and there appear to be some restrictions on employing Arab nationals.

A number of officials from private companies claim that they are facing problems in getting workers from countries of their choice.

A catering company official said that since his dealings are exclusively with locals and Arabs, he wanted Arabic-speaking staff so they could interact with the customers, simultaneously being familiar with the Arab cuisine, but the authorities refused to permit the company to get workers of its choice.

"Getting Arab nationals is rare," said an official of another company, adding that it has become quite common for companies to be asked to hire workers from Myanmar and Vietnam.

"Here in the GCC, we are not used to dealing with workers from countries like Myanmar and Vietnam. These nationals have no experience either of working in this part of the world," he said. The chances are fifty: fifty of the experiment succeeding or flopping, he said.

Another major problem private companies are facing is that if they ask for visas for 10 workers, approval would be given only for two or three, say sources. According to the manager of a company, some firms have, as a result, begun exaggerating their requirement.

"If we actually need 20 workers, we will apply for 30. The chances are that we will get 20," said the manager. "We are forced to resort to such means," he told Al Sharq.