VP Binay: Qatar open to hiring more Pinoys

Qatar is looking forward to hiring more Filipino workers soon, especially now that it is preparing to host the World Cup in 2022, Vice President Jejomar Binay said over the weekend. Binay made the claim after discussing with high officials from Qatar ways to facilitate the deployment of Filipino workers there. “Filipinos are always welcome in Doha. Our doors are open to them. They are hardworking, disciplined, highly skilled and very professional, and they have become part of our culture," a news release from Binay's office quoted Crown Prince Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as telling Binay and his delegation in Amiri Diwan. Some 2,000 Filipinos are currently employed in Qatar. Binay's office said Qatar is presently the world’s richest country per capita (at $88,233), surpassing Norway and Luxembourg. "Qatar could be a major source of important investments for the Philippines, and is now our third trading partner in the Middle East. More than that, the Qataris are highly protective and openly biased in favor of Filipino professionals, semi-skilled and domestic workers, who now constitute about one-fifth of their native population." Binay said. Also, Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Labor Minister Nasser bin Abdulla Al Hamaidi "expressed his eagerness to see a greater Filipino labor presence in Qatar as it prepares to host the World Cup tournament in 2022," Binay's news release added. During his visit to Qatar, Binay also went to the Philippine School Doha to meet with members of the Filipino community there, to listen their concerns and answer questions from the 120 organizations present. He also led the Filipino community at a Mass for three Filipino drug mules executed in China last Wednesday. The mass inside the Philippine Embassy compound was presided by Filipino Franciscan priest Zachary Para. Binay was also scheduled to meet with members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Qatari employers last Thursday and then he was to proceed to Saudi Arabia at 2 a.m. Friday. — LBG, GMA News