4 September 2014, The Peninsula
DOHA: Qataris are urging the authorities to set up a state-run recruitment agency that would take care of their interests while bringing housemaids into the country and not engage in fraudulent activities, as is being done by private recruitment firms.
The request comes as the Ministry of Labour is undertaking an inspection campaign this month against recruitment firms to check for irregularities, reported the Arabic daily Al Sharq.
The campaign has largely been welcomed by Qataris, who have mostly borne the brunt of increased recruitment fees for maids.
According to the Ministry of Labour, the offending firms would face fines and closure in case of repeated violation of rules and failure to respond to the inspectors’ notices to rectify the violations.