DOHA: Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment of Philippines, Silvestre Bello III, has praised steps  taken by Qatar in the field of labour reforms and said that these should be adopted in the region.

Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the Philippine community’s celebration of these two occasions, Bello III praised the continuous efforts exerted by the Qatari government and the programs and reforms that benefit employees, especially the Filipino, stressing that the laws and regulations adopted by the State of Qatar in the field of protecting foreign workers and their rights in its territory are a model and could be a basis for the conventions in the region. He praised the programs and reforms related to the protection and rights, stressing that the Qatari Labor Law protects employment in general, and must be adopted in the whole region through the International Labor Organization.

Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment of Philippines highly valued the close cooperation between the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs and the Philippine Embassy and the continuous, daily and direct communication between both parties to overcome the obstacles that may face the Philippine community, provide effective and timely solutions and take protectionist measures for workers in general and the Philippines in particular. Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment Silvestre Bello III thanked Qatar for its continued efforts to support and protect the Filipino community.

The Filipino community in Doha yesterday held a celebration at Al Rayyan Sports Club on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of the Philippines and Filipino Migrants Day which included a variety of activities between folk songs, heritage music and entertainment competitions in the presence of Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs,  H E  Dr. Issa Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi and Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment Silvestre Bello III and members of the Philippine community in Doha. The two ministers also exchanged gifts and memorial shields.