DOHA: Domestic workers in the country would be able to keep their passports with them once a law that is on the anvil to regulate their working hours, duties and rights is enforced.
The proposed legislation which is expected to be put into force sooner rather than later would also likely fix a minimum wage for household workers, including maids.
The law would make it illegal for sponsors to keep the passports of these workers and in case an employer violates the law a domestic worker would have the right to lodge a complaint with the Labor Department.
Alternatively, the complaint could be filed with the National Human Rights Committee or the worker could directly move the labor court.
The labor court doesn’t charge any fee to register and hear cases filed by workers. The court would summon the sponsor of a complainant in such complaints, Al Sharq reported yesterday.
The daily said the above details were provided by the NHRC to a visiting German parliamentary delegation. The head of legal affairs at the NHRC, Jaber Al Howail, gave the details and present was the vice-chairman of the rights body, Dr Yusuf Obaidan.
The Peninsula
