DOLE: Qatar's job openings for FIFA not for everyone
The 100,000 to 150,000 job openings for foreign workers in Qatar leading to its hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 are not for everyone, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday.
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the job openings are in the skilled and professional fields.
“We at the DOLE don’t advise the untrained, unskilled, or even the domestic Filipino workers, and other related vulnerable workers to try their luck in Qatar, or anywhere else. We urge them to get qualified by continuous training, so they can command better pay,” said Baldoz in a statement.
She advised those wanting to avail of the job openings to get certified first through the national certification system administered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Baldoz also advised workers to get sufficient experience before going abroad as this plus skills can "ensure added protection.”
Demand for migrant workers
In his report, Doha-based Labor Attaché Leopoldo de Jesus said the growth in demand for migrant workers in Qatar will be due to the Qatari government’s investments in infrastructure development as it prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“These would include projects for transport, road development and sewerage, and real estate development. This growth will be fuelled also by energy sector-related projects,” de Jesus said.
De Jesus’ report indicated Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup places Qatar’s public and private expenditure to be around $125 billion and an estimated need for a million overseas workers.
Last November, Baldoz met with Qatari Social Affairs and Labor Minister Mohammad Al Khulaifi to discuss bilateral labor issues between the Philippines and Qatar.
Khulaifi informed Baldoz Qatar is overhauling its health care system and building more hospitals and other health care facilities.
Thus, Baldoz said the increase in demand would be for engineers, architects, master electricians, tile setters, technicians, operators, nurses, doctors, dentists, hotel and resort workers, carpenters, accountants, service crew for food and coffee shops, waiters and waitresses, heavy equipment drivers and mechanics, and safety officers.
Health care centers
De Jesus said that of the 19 new health care centers to be built, six are already being constructed.
He said more health care professionals are thus being hired to meet Qatar’s health care target of reaching out to more people when the population is expected to rise by more than 30 percent.
"In fact, the Supreme Council of Health is now recruiting staff nurses and dental assistants from the Philippines,” he said.
He also said Qatar plans a $40-billion national integrated rail network together with a new $11-billion airport and $5.5-billion deep-water seaport.
De Jesus said the railway project alone will employ 20,000 to 35,000 workers.
"The Hamad International Airport is now completed, but service crews, such as cleaners, are still needed for airport facilities. The Red Line phase of the Metro rail has been awarded and construction is ongoing. The accommodation for the workers, built on international standards, has just been inaugurated. It could house around 3,000 workers according to its camp manager,” he said.
Tourism
De Jesus also said the Qatar Tourism Authority has reportedly invested $20 billion in tourism infrastructure development, with the budget going to build 45,000 additional hotel rooms to meet the FIFA’s room capacity requirement of 60,000 rooms.
Also, he said Qatar’s Public Works Authority will invest $30 billion in buildings and infrastructure projects in the next five to seven years.
These include a crossway which links Hamad International Airport to West Bay; the Lusail Expressway; drainage and sewerage projects, 216 roads, 240 major intersections, 120 public buildings, including hospitals, educational institutions, municipality buildings, and religious endowment projects.
Meanwhile, de Jesus said Qatar is now seen as the top IT market in the Gulf Cooperation Council region until 2017.
"With its booming economy and ambitious ICT investment, it is expected to be the fastest-growing IT market in the Gulf,” he said.
He also said the Grand Mall of Qatar is set to open this year and will need sales assistants, service crew, and security guards, and maintenance crew. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the job openings are in the skilled and professional fields.
“We at the DOLE don’t advise the untrained, unskilled, or even the domestic Filipino workers, and other related vulnerable workers to try their luck in Qatar, or anywhere else. We urge them to get qualified by continuous training, so they can command better pay,” said Baldoz in a statement.
She advised those wanting to avail of the job openings to get certified first through the national certification system administered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Baldoz also advised workers to get sufficient experience before going abroad as this plus skills can "ensure added protection.”
Demand for migrant workers
In his report, Doha-based Labor Attaché Leopoldo de Jesus said the growth in demand for migrant workers in Qatar will be due to the Qatari government’s investments in infrastructure development as it prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“These would include projects for transport, road development and sewerage, and real estate development. This growth will be fuelled also by energy sector-related projects,” de Jesus said.
De Jesus’ report indicated Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup places Qatar’s public and private expenditure to be around $125 billion and an estimated need for a million overseas workers.
Last November, Baldoz met with Qatari Social Affairs and Labor Minister Mohammad Al Khulaifi to discuss bilateral labor issues between the Philippines and Qatar.
Khulaifi informed Baldoz Qatar is overhauling its health care system and building more hospitals and other health care facilities.
Thus, Baldoz said the increase in demand would be for engineers, architects, master electricians, tile setters, technicians, operators, nurses, doctors, dentists, hotel and resort workers, carpenters, accountants, service crew for food and coffee shops, waiters and waitresses, heavy equipment drivers and mechanics, and safety officers.
Health care centers
De Jesus said that of the 19 new health care centers to be built, six are already being constructed.
He said more health care professionals are thus being hired to meet Qatar’s health care target of reaching out to more people when the population is expected to rise by more than 30 percent.
"In fact, the Supreme Council of Health is now recruiting staff nurses and dental assistants from the Philippines,” he said.
He also said Qatar plans a $40-billion national integrated rail network together with a new $11-billion airport and $5.5-billion deep-water seaport.
De Jesus said the railway project alone will employ 20,000 to 35,000 workers.
"The Hamad International Airport is now completed, but service crews, such as cleaners, are still needed for airport facilities. The Red Line phase of the Metro rail has been awarded and construction is ongoing. The accommodation for the workers, built on international standards, has just been inaugurated. It could house around 3,000 workers according to its camp manager,” he said.
Tourism
De Jesus also said the Qatar Tourism Authority has reportedly invested $20 billion in tourism infrastructure development, with the budget going to build 45,000 additional hotel rooms to meet the FIFA’s room capacity requirement of 60,000 rooms.
Also, he said Qatar’s Public Works Authority will invest $30 billion in buildings and infrastructure projects in the next five to seven years.
These include a crossway which links Hamad International Airport to West Bay; the Lusail Expressway; drainage and sewerage projects, 216 roads, 240 major intersections, 120 public buildings, including hospitals, educational institutions, municipality buildings, and religious endowment projects.
Meanwhile, de Jesus said Qatar is now seen as the top IT market in the Gulf Cooperation Council region until 2017.
"With its booming economy and ambitious ICT investment, it is expected to be the fastest-growing IT market in the Gulf,” he said.
He also said the Grand Mall of Qatar is set to open this year and will need sales assistants, service crew, and security guards, and maintenance crew. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News
Comments