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10 THE CASE AGAINST QATARCase 6Fraudulent Contracts[Job]Bus assistant[Sector]Transport[Name]Belinda*[Country]Philippines[Age] 32I came to Qatar through a recruitment agency “Vital Recruitment” inthe Philippines stipulating that I was going to work for the bus companyand earn US$ 400. My contract said that I would be providedwith a part-time job according to my qualification.To pay for the $823 the recruitment agency charged me for the contract,I had to take a loan with a lending agency. But when I arrivedin Qatar, I was only paid$247. It is impossible to90% of workers live on $247 and pay myhave theirdebts, so I took a part-timejob in a sales and marketingcompany. My employerpassportsconfiscated by told me I owed 40 per centemployersof my salary from my parttimejob to him.Photo: Benjamin CroweWhen I first arrived, I had to share a bedroom with 11 persons withno space for my personal belongings.I find this situation unbearable and would like to change my employer.With a college degree I am convinced that I could find anotherjob, but it is impossible to get an NOC from my sponsor.I have complained to my embassy, which has not provided any assistancein this regard. My sponsor is a very influential person, soI am scared to go to the Ministry of Labour or the National HumanRights Committee.Case 7Grievances[Job]Technician[Sector]Fire protection company[Name]Ramon*[Country]Philippines[Age] 32The company has provided us with extremely inadequate accommodation.The kitchen is not hygienic, the bedrooms are crowded, thedrainage in the showers is clogged up and most importantly there isno safety equipment or emergency exits in the building, which putsour lives under serious risk.We have to work overtime regularly, which often means a 12 or 14hour shift, but we only receive overtime pay for 2-3 hours daily. If wewant to have a day off on statutory holidays, we need to accept asalary deduction.Overall, salaries are extremely low, and there is a clear discriminationbetween the nationalities. While Nepali and Indian workers earnaround US$ 164 -192, Filipino workers earn US$ 329 - 466. As aFilipino I earn $ 411 a month, but I don’t receive food allowances asagreed in my contract.Also, our employer refuses to pay gratuity payments after two yearsof employment, which is illegal even according to Qatari law. Butnone of us can file a complaint with the Labour Court, since it isimpossible to support oneself financially during the process.Photo: Benjamin CroweMy passport is with my employer, but it is me who has to pay andtake charge of renewing my residence permit.