Qatar needs 100,000 to 150,000 Filipino skilled and professional workers but not all of them will come from the Philippines, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that Qatar would invest in massive infrastructure development in preparation for its hosting to the FIFA World Cup in 2022, and it needs huge demand for foreign workers.
Baldoz advised Filipino workers to undergo training through the accredited Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training center to obtain sufficient experience before going abroad.
Doha-based Labor Attache Leopoldo de Jesus told Baldoz that among massive projects include transportation, road development and sewerage, and real estate development.
“This growth will be fuelled also by energy sector-related projects,” de Jesus said. Qatar is one of the world’s leading producers of natural gas.
Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup places Qatar’s public and private expenditure to hover around US$125 billion and an estimated need for a million overseas workers.
Given Qatar’s huge development projects, it would need 100,000 to 150,000 OFWs if the current labor market share of Filipino workers is sustained,” Baldoz said.
Last year, Baldoz met with Qatari Social Affairs and Labor Minister Mohammad Al Khulaifi to discuss bilateral labor issues between the Philippines and Qatar.
said the increase in the workers demand would be for various job categories, such as engineers, architects, master electricians, tile setters, technicians, operators, nurses, doctors, dentists, hotel and resort workers, carpenters, accountants, service crew for food and coffee shops, waiters and waitresses, heavy equipment drivers and mechanics, and safety officers.
“Thus, more healthcare professionals are being hired to meet Qatar’s healthcare target of reaching out to more people when the population is expected to rise by more than 30 percent. In fact, the Supreme Council of Health is now recruiting staff nurses and dental assistants from the Philippines,” the Labor official said.
Qatar plans a US$40 billion national integrated rail network together with a new US$11 billion airport and US$5.5 billion deep-water seaport.
“The railway project alone will employ 20,000-35,000 workers. The Hamad International Airport is now completed, but service crews, such as cleaners, are still needed for airport facilities,” the DoLE official said.