By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Qatar has lifted restrictions on work visas for Vietnamese nationals and Vietnam now hopes to send housemaids here, the country’s Ambassador, Le Hong Phan, said yesterday.
Qatar stopped issuing visas to Vietnamese workers in 2008 due to various reasons.
And now that the restrictions have been removed, Vietnam is seeking to increase its workforce in Qatar, particularly in sectors such as engineering, construction and services.
“Qatar’s Ministry of Labour recently informed us that it has resumed recruitments from Vietnam,” Phan told The Peninsula.
“There were restrictions for several years. The number of visas issued for Vietnamese was limited due to various reasons,” he said without giving details.
However, media reports in Vietnam in 2008 said Qatar had stopped issuing visas to Vietnamese because many workers were involved in robbery, fighting, gambling and making alcohol illegally here.
Phan said there were about 500 Vietnamese expatriates in Qatar, a majority of them working in the construction sector and Vietnam is looking to diversify and increase its labour force in Qatar.
“Qatar has a vast job market with many opportunities and we are seeking to increase the number of workers in different sectors,” Phan said.
“We are looking into the construction sector and other fields such as the services sector, including hotels, and the aviation industry.
“We are also looking at the possibility of bringing female domestic helpers,” he added.
The official hailed his country’s growing relationship with Qatar, particularly in the field of trade. During the last few years many high-ranking delegations have exchanged visits.
The ambassador said that bilateral ties received a major boost during the visit of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to Vietnam last year.
“Vietnam and Qatar enjoy friendly relations,” said Phan.
Vietnam Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is scheduled to visit Qatar as both countries complete 20 years of diplomatic relationships this year.
Bilateral trade turnover reached more than $245m in 2012, an increase of $45m from the previous year.
Vietnam exports products like seafood, cables and wires, wood products and woven bamboo products, ceramic materials, construction glass, automobile spare parts, vegetables and electronic products to Qatar.
It imports mainly liquefied gas and chemicals from Qatar.
The Peninsula
