The Philippines excludes the Gulf states from raising the minimum wages for the Filipino domestic workers

The Minister of Migrant Workers in the Philippine Republic, Hans Liu Kakdak, stressed that the minimum wages of the Filipino domestic workers in the Gulf states will not be imposed and will be subject to the issue of supply and demand, indicating that the mechanism of determining the minimum wage will be reviewed in a way that balances the interests of both parties.

According to the Qatar News Agency (Qena), Kakdak explained, during a meeting with the Qatari Minister of Labor, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al -Marri, that the annual medical examination in the Philippines will be voluntary, and it will take place at the expense of the Philippine side so that additional costs do not bear the employers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, noting the agreement of the two sides to be the competencies of disputes resolution that arise between the Philippine workers and employers within the powers The ministries of work in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

During the meeting, the aspects of joint cooperation were discussed in the fields of the labor sector, and ways to enhance and develop them, especially the regulation of the recruitment of Philippine workers to the State of Qatar.

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al -Marri stressed the importance of developing the frameworks and procedures that guarantee the smoothness of the recruitment of Filipino workers, in line with the laws and regulations in force, and they maintain the rights of both workers and employers alike, stressing the importance of prior coordination between the State of Qatar and the Philippine Republic in relation to employment, while emphasizing respect for the internal policies and laws of each country.

He expressed the concern of the Gulf Cooperation Council states about the requirements announced by the Philippine government regarding the recruitment of domestic workers from the Philippines without consulting and prior coordination, stressing that the GCC countries represent the largest regions that bring Filipino workers.

He also clarified the state of the GCC states in the absence of coordination and consultation despite the existence of existing communication channels and the bilateral agreements signed between the two parties with the aim of regulating the recruitment of workers, indicating that the legislation and labor regulations in the GCC countries provide protection for all workers without exception, as they all developed and enhanced their legislation in order to preserve the rights and dignity of all categories of workers, in addition to preserving the rights of employers in a balanced manner.