Qatar Employment and Career News

Minimum wages proposed for overseas workers entering GCC

The Gulf Arab States employing millions of foreigners must take necessary measures to fix minimum wages for workers, said the Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, the Chairman of Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, based in Saudi Arabia, during his visit to Doha.

Speaking to the reporters, he said there is an urgent need from the end of governments in the region to arrive on a minimum salary slab for overseas workers.

Several problems pertaining to salaries are cropping up amidst the low-income group in the region, and the main reason for such a situation is the absence of a minimum wage system in the countries, he said.

For instance, a Bangladeshi worker, when hired by a company for a salary of QR300 per month, may not be happy as he would have landed upon the job by paying huge money to some manpower agency back home. This money would have been raised through loans, which may be required to be repaid.

With a salary of QR300 per month, it would be impossible for him to support his family and repay the debt, Kamel pointed out.

Hence, a minimum wage limit should be fixed by the local government. The biggest challenge that the Islamic countries are facing currently is unemployment, particularly among youth. The Countries need to stand in unison and fight the menace.

The issue pertaining to minimum wage is seriously being considered in the region.

Posted on 25/11/2008

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