Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives (DPR RI) Speaker Puan Maharani accentuated that the protection and fulfilment of rights of Indonesian migrant workers in Qatar would be a priority issue in bilateral relations.

According to the Qatari Home Ministry, a total of 16,690 Indonesians were recorded in Qatar by October 2022.

"I appeal for thoughtfulness and support from the Qatari Shura Council to ensure Indonesian migrant workers in Qatar can perform their job well and have their rights assured," Maharani noted as per the statement here, Monday.

The DPR RI speaker earlier met Qatari Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al Ghanim and Deputy Speaker Hamda Bint Hassan Al-Sulaiti at the Shura Council Building, Doha, Qatar, Sunday (December 4).

Maharani noted that Indonesian professional workers in Qatar were mostly engaged in the oil and gas, healthcare, hospitality, and aviation sectors.

During her meeting with Hamda bint Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Maharani also underscored the need to empower women to contribute to peace, particularly in Afghanistan.

"As fellow women parliament speakers, it will be our leverage to meet and share our knowledge on how to promote women's role in politics and advance gender equality," the speaker noted.

According to Maharani, Indonesian and Qatari legislatures could collaborate to bolster women's equality and participation in politics.

Maharani pointed out that out of the DPR RI members serving in the 2019-2014 period, women members of parliament comprised 22 percent, increasing by more than twofold, from women legislators elected during the first legislative election after the fall of New Order in 1999, when they only accounted for nine percent of the DPR RI membership.

"DPR RI has established the Republic of Indonesia Parliamentary Women Caucus. We could share our experience on how to address hindrances to bolster the participation of women in various aspects," the DPR RI speaker stated.

Maharani affirmed that support from respective national parliaments would be pivotal to intensifying bilateral relations between Indonesia and Qatar.

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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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