By Nasratu Kargbo
Members of Parliament have expressed concern over reports of appalling conditions faced by Sierra Leonean migrants in Qatar and have called on the nominee appointed as Ambassador to Qatar Ahmed Tejan Fadlu-Deen to ensure the maltreatment is stopped and they get full protection.
MPs made this call on the 19th of October 2023 in parliament during a debate on the approval of presidential nominees. The Acting Leader of the Opposition Alfred Ayodele Thompson said that there are many Sierra Leoneans in Qatar who are domestic workers, who’ve had their passports seized and the Embassy unable to keep track of them.
“Most of our sisters out there are being abused, maltreated, and raped, they have no one to talk to, and they cannot call back home. The embassy is not taking their situation very seriously, so you have that task in your hands to protect our sisters over there”, Thompson said.
He stated that despite the fact that Qatar has passed a law that states that domestic workers should not work for over ten hours a day, most are overworked as long as eighteen hours a day.
The MP called on the nominee for the position of Ambassador to Qatar to ensure that Sierra Leoneans who travel to the country are protected, noting that he has a lot to work on in that regard.
Deputy Majority Leader 1 Bashiru Silikie said many Sierra Leoneans have left the country for Qatar in search of greener pastures, but noted that some of them are sexually harassed, whilst others are ‘slaves’.
He called on the proposed ambassador to ensure he searches for these Sierra Leoneans and makes sure that the new laws protect them.
From Kenema District Juliana Aliematu Fatorma said some youths have been taken to the country to work, but have not been paid for services rendered and are instead being maltreated.
She said that nowadays Sierra Leonean youths travel in search of better opportunities to improve their lives, but noted that some countries have tough immigration laws that cause a lot of suffering.
Parliament approved eight nominees including Ambassador to Qatar Fadludeen, the then Minister of Agriculture Abubakarr Karim as Ambassador to China, and Harold Bundu Saffa - Ambassador to Ethiopia African Union.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (23/10/23)
