Qatar tipped to hire more Filipinos

DOHA, Qatar—More Filipino skilled workers were expected to be recruited for various jobs here as Qatar embarks on a massive construction activity in the run-up to the holding of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup here.

Qatar will host FIFA 2022.

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, Alan Timbayan, told reporters that they had expected more demand for such Filipino skilled workers as engineers and laborers as “a result of Qatar’s thrust to develop its infrastructure sector.”

Currently, 222,721 Filipinos live and work in Doha, Timbayan said, but that figure could more than double or even triple.

Timbayan said the projected increase in hiring could also benefit those in the other sectors, such as health, restaurants and banking.

Qatari Energy Minister Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada had earlier said Qatar preferred Filipino workers because they were hardworking.

Timbayan said the projected increase in activities here would also further benefit the Philippines as three agreements will be signed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit.

READ: Doha ‘honored’ as Duterte lands in Qatar — minister

Duterte and Qatari Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Al Thani, will witness the signing on Sunday of agreements aimed at improving collaboration in areas of health, culture, and technical vocational education and training.

Timbayan said the agreements on healthcare and vocational education and training would focus on exchanges of expertise of specialists, research trainers and doctors from both countries. While for culture, they have proposed the conduct of a Qatar-Philippine exhibit day this year.

Some of the country’s arts and culture will be brought to Qatar and also Qatar arts to the Philippines, he said.

Timbayan said aside from agreements on healthcare, arts and technical vocational trainings, possible addition would be a waiver on visa for diplomatic passport holders.

He said they were also “looking forward to the signing of bilateral agreement on the promotion and protection of investments during the President’s visit.”

Once such agreement had been signed, more investments will come to the Philippines because Qatari companies wanted to diversify their investment to various fields, according to Timbayan.

He said Qatari businessmen “see the Philippines as one of the best locations for their investment.”

Timbayan said the Doha leg of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority roadshow in February earned several pledges and memorandum of understanding from Qatari businessmen.

“There were some prospective businessmen who manifested their intention to invest in the Philippines,” he said.