The Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani is on a three-day-visit to India, which will be wrapped up today. He was in India to primarily discuss the supply of additional gas to India. Notably, after wide discussions, India and Qatar entered into an oil pact.  Meanwhile, ahead of this visit, India diaspora in Qatar has earlier called for the protection of low paid workers’ interests in Qatar.

It is a known fact that a large number of people from India migrate to Gulf countries in search of bread and butter.  In fact, reports state that several individuals are paid very low compared to the output they give. In view of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani’s visit to India, the people in Qatar came to this decision.

It may be noted that Indians constitute one third of Qatar’s population and reports indicate that over four lakh Indian immigrants are among those who are employed in low paid jobs.  The Indian diaspora has urged the leadership of Qatar and India to look into the problems of Indian immigrants and raise their standards in Qatar.

Besides appealing Emir for raising the standards of the Indian employees in Qatar, India diaspora  was highlighting as to how employers in Qatar were allegedly exploiting the workers by taking their passports into the custody. Without an exit permit and passport, no individual can come back to India.  The Emir reportedly discussed on the welfare of Indian immigrants after he sealed up to six agreements related to energy ties between two countries.(Phani)