CHR, Qatar committees sign pact for migrant workers' protection


By JOSEPH TRISTAN ROXAS, GMA News
The Philippine Commission on Human Rights and the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar signed Wednesday a cooperation agreement that aims to protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers and their families.
CHR chairperson Jose Luis Gascon and NHRC president Dr. Ali Al Marri led the ceremony for the pact that will ensure bilateral action for the welfare of OFWs, especially on work-related complaints.
"This agreement is a significant milestone in the effort towards human rights protection. We might be able to explore ways of cooperation so that both committees will be able to advance our respective mandates," Gascon said.
Under the agreement, the two panels have laid out 10 areas of cooperation on the improvement of public awareness on human rights principles both for Filipinos and Qataris.
Both institutions also agreed to conduct trainings, studies and research, exchange of information and experiences, and the monitoring of cases affecting Filipino workers.
The agreement covers an initial term of three years and entails the creation of a joint committee.
Gascon said the more than 250,000 OFWs in the Gulf state can now raise their concerns to NHRC aside from reaching out to the Philippine embassy in Doha.
Al Marri said OFWs can proceed to the NHRC, where they have their own legal department, and connect them to other government agencies in Qatar.
"Migrant workers can directly come to us. When we receive complaints, we directly contact the company or with the ministry... then we take action to support or help them solve the problem," Al Marri said.
Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, for her part, said this initiative means the concerns of OFWs in Qatar can be addressed.
"If you have a state institution in that part of the country advocating for the rights of your workers, then you can be assured that it is going to be addressed," Gana said. —LBG, GMA News

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