Forced Labor at RasLaffan

I work in ras laffan......and i am in some sorth of indirectky working for one of the company mentioned in ras laffan.guess you guys dun know what real project work is all about. I came here knowing very well the number of hours of work I had to put in a day. I see no problem working 10 hour a day.

I wouldnt mind working 12 hours a day here in ras laffan. after all i see nothing much to do in qatar anyway that warrants me to work 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. I am happy with the package given.

Well what else is there to say? you know what you are into when you sogn the contract. After all the faster the project gets completed the better it is for all of us. Qatar gets richer...and more good things will be in store for all living in qatar not just for the local but for all.

Otherwise where do you think the money forall the rapid developemnt you seein qatar is coming from ifnot for the sucess of these project.

I have been working in projects in other copuntries as well, its all the same. 10 hours work a day 6 days a week. you dun like it dun take the position in the 1st place. Those that makes the complaints here must have not been involve with working in projects before. they must be having jobs with the Company itself.

I have had the opportunity to witness what goes round with these people working for the Company. Let me say that they are a bunch of A%$#(@*&$^. They are more into ensuring that they do less work as posibble, they are great Tai chi exponet so that they are able to keep their jobs.

Give me 12 hours a day baby, six days a week and I will be a happy man. Heheheheh I need the Friday as off day since I need to go for training and keep my bowling form in good condition. I will leave Qatar sooner and richer as far as I know. LOL

Just today I was having coup of tea  in al Garaffa , one worker from car wash  came and ask me “ sir I came here 3 month before I did not get my salary till now , also I have to work 12hrs per day and no day off as well only once a month company gives day off , also company not paying any over time ,my salary is just 500 riyal , I have no idia bout my Visa is stamped or not even no idea about medical facility, 2 times I was sick company did not give me single riyal for treatment also, food I have to arrange my self “

I am sure that  car wash job , cafeteria, grocery ,saloon same story , specially small construction company are treating worker like animal .

imagine   they have to pay around 4 thousand to 6 riyal just to come here ,when they will pay their loan ? when they will make some money and go back ?

what could be the solution of these situation ? who is responsible for this ? Qatar government ?  hosting  country ? recruitment agency ? sponsor ? manager ?  or them self ?

more story going on

http://mitery.blogspot.com/2008/05/waiting-to-deport-with-empty-hand.html

YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!

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Stop the (Mod - no swearing please) olympics bid........They restrict us in their land we will do in our land

but most companies pay the two hours overtime promptly

cheers 

YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!

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The big industrial cities are the major income of Qatar so nothing will change not labor laws, laws to monitor pollution,  its not in their best

interests. Its unfortunate but the reality for now.  

Oh really? I have made various skits and shows. I even tried getting on tv in Japan :P but gave up because you know how Qatari fathers are stuck in "My son has to be president of a company" mode and didn't really support me.

@Knox,

It's not really a simple question.

If you are asking my opinion.

I would say that nationalization has to fulfill certain requirements.

1) A certain term in the country

2) Evidence that the person will be contributing to the country and not simply live off of welfare.

3) Arabic wouldn't be forced, however it would help during your interview :P

4) Religion wouldn't be forced upon you.

5) Similar system as America has where you have to finish a history exam to show that you know your Qatar.

But respecting the monarchy is a must for a national or a foreigner in my opinion. It doesn't mean that you have to agree with everything, just respectfully disagree :P

(Unless the King is a tyrant then that's another situation :P)

Anyway, that's my opinion.

__________________________

I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net

You are my favorite Nutty professor.

J/K

LOL

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Is that a riddle from Jeopardy game show Knoxcollege?

Heel Boy, you got me lost in the translation.

LOL

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I'm glad that you see what I mean (I hope you understand and you're not just exhausted :P)

I love these debates since it gives me something to think about. (when I was younger in high school and there would be class debates, I'd choose the side I had less arguments for to challenge myself :P)

Are you really a professor? What do you teach?

@Red_pope

I always imagined a kink as a 'chink' as in a chink in a chain.

So ironing metal felt strange :P

Alas, I guess a kink must be a wrinkle and nothing more.

__________________________

I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net

just a simple question amnesia, hope you dont mind, What does it take for a person to become a local Qatari, other than having qatari citizenship, speaking arabic, being a muslim, be faithful to the Qatar monarchy.

Is there any other requirement that you think a person should fulfil before he is granted the right to live in Heaven without any fear of deportation

You could always walk to my confession booth with all your kinks and grits holding your heart captive.

I'm willing to spend time listen to you.

:)

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

We just need to grit our teeth while the 'kinks' are ironed out. (on an unrelated tangent, Can you iron a kink ?)

The dry cleaners will do a fantastic job with that problem.

The dentist will fix and clean your teeth at a reasonable price.

Sorry, but you left yourself wide open for this one.

:>

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

You always being Super Nice to me always.

No complains here.

What About from me to you?

Lets take a small walk to my confession booth.

LOL

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

If by western countries you mean America, then yes.

However, you ask any foreigner in the UK how they feel, they'll tell you that they feel alienated, discriminated, and feel racism around them.

Most of my friends don't last a year in the UK before deciding they'd rather be back home.

PM, you are like me, we are naturally understanding, open minded (give others the chance to express their views), and also hopefull.

I hope that the world will one day be balanced.

Yes there are some countries which are worse off than others. however, with a postive attitude, that can change; albiet one person at a time.

From a small country's point of view though with a very low population, you have to understand that the country will want to invest in it's people and that involves giving them a bit more priority. This helps guarantee the future of the country. Qatar just needs a few more years to develop and for other nationalities to join in and that will open the various ministries eyes.

Qatar has to be carefull with immigration as the nationals are already at less than 50% of the country's population. Sociologically speaking, if the locals feel like they are a minority, then there could be far worse consequences.

We just need to grit our teeth while the 'kinks' are ironed out. (on an unrelated tangent, Can you iron a kink ?)

__________________________

I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net

But you fail IN not to hirING the Red_Pope even through my credentials are from QL only.

I still Love you as Sister of QL...

LOL

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Come on girl, I'm nice to you most of the time, until your key board strikes me down:

:)

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Don't get the Professor started!

J/k guys.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Sorry but that is just wishfull thinking.

In the UK, I've seen Brits favoured over Chinese or Indians for example.

However you misunderstood me. I was not bringing up the point that a Qatari will be chosen just because he is Qatari, I meant that a Qatari will naturally be nicer to a Qatari.

I personally understand if a Brit wants to help out a Brit, or if a Chinese person wants to help out a Chinese person. It doesn't mean that they will be favoured, it just means that they have that added personal attachment.

@Knox, :P thanks (unsure if that was a sarcastic or serious statement).

I'm not disagreeing with anyone but I'm trying to play devil's advocate to try and help people see what they need to do as well as try to help people try and understand some people's mentality.

@PM, many thanks for your kind words and support :)

__________________________

I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net

LOL

Good reply my friend..

Hehe!

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I am thinking of confessing to the "feeding hand" for being ungrateful to him

I don't critique directly the hand that feeds me.

In other words the Job, the company, the benefits.

Get it right my son.

Have you visit my confession booth lately?

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I guess I shouldnt mind working for long hours or at odd times as long as my boss feeds.

Thank you dear boss

Definitely PM He will be a wonderful lawyer one day atleast he has a valid argument "What if notbody told the Government"

I think I have nothing else to say your honor. I have been clean bowled by Amnesia's arguments

I don't critique directly the hand that feeds me, I just bring better Ideas on the table to make my environment more Hospitable to everyone and prosperous. Is a hard state of the mind to maintain a positive approach. I do enjoy my job, don't matter the hours I work.

But If you are offensive, disrespectful and you posses a "don't care stalinist style leadership" I will become a force to be reckon with because, I have knowledge and skills to test your mind set.

That is just me.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Quoting Amnesia

"What if nobody told the Government"

I can live with this fact for the rest of my life. You will be a GREAT Lawyer one day Amnesia. You have my blessings with you. May God grant you all your wishes

my dad he s 65 plus by the way, works at ras laffan.he s a senior staff but he works often 14-15 hours a day incl. fridays.and his job requirement takes him to the field often.he works for a japanese company which has been good to him. i asked him why he never complained about his working hours . his reply....he loves his job. as a surgeon i often have to work longer hours than him but i wonder whether id be saying what he said about 30 years from now......?

People seem to be avoiding the main point of my post.

I am not saying that there are NO businesses that conduct illegal activity. I'm sure it happens all over the world.

I am simply explaining what the law is and what the general argument is in defence.

If someone whips you, takes your passport away, or simply threatens your life, OBVIOUSLY that is illegal and not allowed.

@knox, of course it would be the same, but what the 'boss's' attitude towards a Qatari employee would be is different.

For example, if there was a French worker who was forced to work 10 hours or simply have his contract terminated (because another person could take his place) then it would be the same for the Qatari. However if the 'manager' favours a Qatari that is due to personal reasons. Yes Qatari's will be supported by Qataris, but that's NATURAL.

I had a best friend in University for 3 years. He was Chinese. However one day, he met some new Chinese people who he knew for less than a day, but he managed to say some cruel things about me. When I asked another Chinese friend about this, the answer was simple "A Chinese person will always help or favour a Chinese person over a foreigner". (Yes his statement was generalized but that was sad to hear).

@Dweller, suing the government is not simple. However why would you sue the government? For not doing anything about it? What if nobody told them?

It's simple everyone.

If you feel that you have been forced to work and have NO choice, GO speak to a lawyer or directly speak to your embassy, or if you don't have an embassy, then go directly to the relevant ministry.

Why is it so hard for people to understand that all you need to do is speak up!

My father once told me "Standing up for yourself doesn't mean you have to be filled with hate. Be respectfull, solve your problem, and you'll help others more than you could ever help yourself."

__________________________

I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net

I would say it's nigh on impossible to sue the government companies.

I don't think labour laws apply to them.

It is very difficult to sue the government.

All industrial cities like Ras Laffan, Messaeid, etc. are government owned, via so-called Q-companies, or 50/50 joint ventures with foreign entities.

This is not an issue for blue collar workers only. It is accross the board, from professionals down to the lowest echelons. Also it is not a phenomenon found in private companies alone. It is everywhere, from Qatari national flagship energy companies, to all joint venture companies. In the name of "professionalism", people are encouraged to working longer hours for the "sake of the project", or to "get the baby out" or because some inefficient-lowest-bidder-contractor has been hired on the basis of a cheap deal and is dragging his feet, and the owner's employees have to work twice as hard to help him finish the work.

I also personally know other people who have been naive enough to travel all the way to Qatar on vague promises, to find out after arrival that they have to sign contracts for 60 hours/week for six days/week, for the same salary. Once you're here, it is very hard to refuse work and go home empty handed to family and friends.

Have to contact the Labour Dept. And Sue the company !

http://www.buysellqatar.com

Would the argument/justification be the same if the workers are Qatari workers and are threatened with expulsion for not working 10+ hours/day

Dont know why people apply different standards for human beings

the argument is simple.

There is a set number of hours ALLOWED for blue collar workers.

Each employee has the right to refuse those hours. (then again, the company could always find someone else that wants to take that job).

In which case, the use of the word 'force' is vague :P

__________________________

I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net

Unless those workers are properly compensated….these companys are breaking the law.

PART SEVEN

REGULATION OF THE WORKING HOURS AND LEAVE

Article (73)

The maximum ordinary working hours shall b e e ighty f our h ours per week at the rate of eight hours per day with the exception of the month of Ramadan when the maximum working hours shall be thirty six hours per month at the rate of six hours per day

But,

Article (74)

The workers may be required to work additional hours to the working hours specified in the preceding article provided that the actual working hours per day shall not exceed ten hours unless the work is necessary for the prevention of gross loss or dangerous accident or for the repair or alleviation of the consequences of the said loss or accident

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PM

That is what I called getting reach at the cost of others RIBSS!

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..