DOHA: Ethiopia has agreed to send domestic workers, including maids, to Qatar but said it would need monthly reports about salary payments to them and that their work timings should not exceed that agreed upon in their job contracts.

The dignity and rights of Ethiopian workers must be protected in Qatar, the country’s Minister of State for Labour and Social Affairs, Dr Zerihun Kebede, told a visiting delegation of Qatar Chamber, representative body of the private sector.

He said requests to recruit Ethiopian domestics will need to be submitted to the country’s embassy in Doha, and it would be sent to manpower agencies in Ethiopia for approval.

However, an extensive mechanism is being put in place for the recruitment process to take off based on terms and conditions agreed on by both sides, local Arabic daily Al Watan reported yesterday.

The Chamber delegation led by Ali Hamad Al Marri held discussions with the Ethiopian labour ministry for two days beginning June 30.

The wages paid to the Ethiopian domestics will be uniform, the Qatari delegation told Ethiopian officials. There are 120 manpower agencies in Qatar while the number of recognised recruitment agencies in Ethiopia is 380.

Those shortlisted for recruitment will have to undergo medical tests in Ethiopia, and later on here. If a worker is sent home on health grounds, all costs would be borne by the Ethiopian agency concerned. The Peninsula

Source: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/-ethiopia-