Demand for Indonesians in hospitality sector ‘growing’

Published: Tuesday, 10 April, 2007, 07:59 AM Doha Time
Gulf Times

THE demand for Indonesian workers is growing rapidly in Qatar’s hospitality sector, said Gulfan Afero, charge de affaires at the Indonesian embassy, yesterday.

Afero said the Indonesians had emerged as the second largest number of employees in at least three major hotels now. “A number of Indonesian professionals have also taken up jobs in at least two newly-developed resorts in Qatar,” he said.

The official expressed hope that more hotel groups would recruit employees from Indonesia in coming years as the tourism and hospitality industry in Qatar is poised to grow more.

Afero said two fast-food chains too had together recruited over 100 personnel from Indonesia in recent months. Indonesia had held a roadshow last October to highlight its achievements in various fields, with special focus on tourism and oil sectors. “The results of the show were very encouraging as several employers evinced interest in recruiting hospitality professionals from our country,” said Afero.

The embassy official confirmed that with the Philippines mission deciding to hike the minimum salaries for housemaids recruited from the Philippines to QR1500 from the beginning of this year, there had been a drastic rise in the demand for housemaids from Indonesia. “Every day, we receive at least four to five visa requests for housemaids,” he said.

Asked if this additional demand for maids would result in Indonesian government demanding a hike in the minimum salary from the present QR650, the official said it was an issue to be decided by the government.

Some time ago, there was a steep fall in the recruitment of housemaids from the South East Asian country.

“We are working on a strategy to increase our presence in professional sectors like oil and gas and hospitality,” he said.

Afero said the embassy had blacklisted three construction companies in 2006 for delay and non-payment of salaries to workers. “On our inquiries, it was found that all three had recruited personnel from Indonesia without the mandatory embassy attestation,” he said.