Updated with quotes from Human Rights Watch.
Qatar’s government has proposed making it easier for expats to leave the country and change jobs, but has stopped short of abolishing a system of exit visas and no-objection certificates for its foreign workforce.
Officials from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs held a highly anticipated press conference this afternoon to release what it billed as “wide-ranging labour market reforms.”
“We want to provide more protection to the expat community and (all) workers in this country, to provide them with more protection and safeguard their rights,” said Salih Saeed Al-Sahwi, MOLSA’s manager of labor relations, according to the official translation.
Actual changes, however, appear to be some time away. Today’s announcement represents the “first step” in changing Qatar’s labor laws, as proposals supported by the executive branch of government must still be circulated to the country’s Chamber of Commerce and approved by the Advisory (Shura) Council.
Proposed changes
The current exit permit system largely requires foreign workers to get their employer’s consent to leave the country. Officials today proposed shifting this process to an automated system run by the Ministry of Interior.
Expats would apply for a permit at least 72 hours prior to departure. It would then be up to their employer to argue why the individual should not be allowed to leave the country, such as criminal or financial wrongdoing. Any objections would then be reviewed by a special committee.
Travel applications for emergencies would be flagged and dealt with separately, an official told Doha News.
Some employers in Qatar have previously argued that the exit permit system is needed to prevent foreign workers from fleeing the country after taking out loans that the sponsor is liable to cover.
The government appears to have undermined that argument by proposing that employers no longer be financially responsible for their employees. Instead, financial obligations incurred by foreign workers will be governed by the country’s civil and commercial laws.
Changing jobs
Currently, expats require a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can change sponsors and take up a new job in Qatar. Alternatively, they can leave the country for two years before taking up a new position.
Under the government’s new proposals, employees who sign a fixed-term contract would be free to transfer to a new employer at the end of their contract.
However, those who sign an indefinite contract would have to work for their employer for five years before being allowed to change positions.
If foreign workers want to change jobs earlier, they would still need the permission of their employer.
Other key points of the reform package include:
- Increasing the penalty for confiscating a worker’s travel documents from a maximum of QR10,000 to up to QR50,000 per passport;
- Distributing a “model contract” that employers must follow in principle when drafting employment agreements;
- Requiring wages to be paid electronically to ensure wages are deposited into a worker’s bank account on time;
- Enforcing a new accommodation standard for workers’ housing. No details of those standards were provided; and
- Formulating harsher penalties for labor law violations, such as late payment of wages and violations of the new accommodations standards.
Officials said the changes would cover all foreign employees in Qatar when asked if the proposals included domestic workers, who are not currently covered by the country’s labor laws.
A suggestion that a minimum wage might be included was rejected by Al-Sahwi, who said salaries would be based on the forces of supply and demand.
However, in response to another question, Ali Ahmad Al-Khulaifi – the planning and quality department director at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs – opened the door to ending the prohibition on workers joining trade unions.
“We believe in the right of workers to have trade unions and their own associations,” he said in Arabic. However, he hedged his comments by arguing that the labor market in Qatar – which is overwhelmingly made up of foreigners – is different from other countries, meaning any such changes regarding trade unions required further study and consultations.
Killing “kafala”
Officials at Wednesday’s press conference repeatedly said that the kafala system would be eliminated, starting by changing the name of the law to one governing the “entry, residence and exit of expatriate workers.”
While the the practical implications are unclear, it appears the intent is to give more weight to the contract between employers and employees alongside more state oversight and regulation.
A statement handed out to reporters was titled, “Qatar abolishes kafala” – a claim quickly panned by critics.
Nick McGeehan, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, called the statement “utterly misleading.
“The claim that they’ve abolished kafala is an attempt to garner praise for a step that they have manifestly not taken.”
DLA Piper
Not mentioned during today’s briefing was the 135-page report the government received from international law firm DLA Piper on the living and working conditions of the country’s blue-collar workforce.
The government commissioned the report last fall in response to critical media coverage of the abuse of migrant workers, and confirmed it had received the study earlier this month.
The state-run Qatar News Agency had said the report would only be made public after the government had reviewed its findings and evaluated the feasibility of its recommendations.
McGeehan has reviewed the DLA Piper report and said it is not clear how today’s announcement relates to the more than 60 recommendations it contains.
For example, DLA Piper recommended a full phase-out of the exit permit system – not transferring more powers to the government, according to McGeehan.
“(Qatar’s) response has been garbled and confusing,” he told Doha News.
McGeehan added that the DLA Piper report calls for measures such as performing more autopsies or post-mortem examinations following unexplained deaths as well as an independent study on migrant deaths attributable to cardiac arrest to determine how and why otherwise healthy laborers are dying.
Other recommendations are more closely tied to the country’s labor laws. McGeehan said these include abolishing court fees when filing labor court cases – often cited as a barrier to justice for low-income workers – as well as having the state cover repatriation costs and end-of-service gratuities and recoup those expenses from problematic employers.
“It’s difficult to square (today’s) press release with the very clear and concise recommendations of the DLA Piper report,” McGeehan said.
“I don’t want to be too critical today … If today is the absolute and final response, it falls so short that it can’t possibly be. There must be more.”
Did any of the reporters ask what the timeframe would be to see any of these ‘changes’?
Since these are only proposals, it’ll depend how long the shoura reviews and dis/approves these proposals. So Qatar standard time… I’d say a couple years!
Please take your words back “Couple Years” 🙁
I will place a bet that the law will come in reasonably soon, but what about the governments automated system for exit visas? Has this even been thought about in any way other than an idea?
It already exists but the way we do it now is that our sponsors login with their ID and do it for us. Now I assume it will be open to all IDs basically.
Are you not aware of “Qatar Standard Time”? Nothing happens in days, weeks, or months… always YEARS!
Hope this time they follow some other Time Zone 🙂
This is a just proposal subject to final approval of Government’s Executive (Shuraa) Committee
As per the EU Parliament delegation to Qatar few weeks ago, they where promised the changes will be in place before their next visit in September.
LOL – And the airport was to be finished in 2009.
“Inshallah” doesn’t have a time period..!!! 😛
“Inshallah” is literally “If god wills it”.
“IF!”
I refuse some of the requests from my children by saying “Inshallah”. I also approve them with the same words “Inshallah”.
So the 2 year ban still stays? This is confusing, i read ealier on Doha News that the 2 year ban will be lifted, but its not mentioned here?
Little disappointed that they are still requiring expats to obtain an exit visa. If they want to stop people from fleeing the country for loans and unfinished work then only those people should be barred from leaving the country without permission. People who have no loans and no unfinished work should be free to come and go as they please.
As for the NOC changes, they are reasonable. You shouldn’t be able to change jobs if you are still under contract. But if you have finished your contract then they have no right to tell you if you can work some other place or not.
for fixed period contracts I agree, but I think it’s not fair for open-ended i.e. indefinite term contracts, as in those cases the minimum period will be considered 5 years. So probably all employers will switch to indefinite contracts now
But who would agree to sign an indefinite contract? That’s like making a deal with the devil.
Haha, I’ve already signed one, and I know many others who have. I came here planning on staying at least 5 years, with the same employer, or leave if that doesn’t work out. And the devil in this case is trustworthy, in my opinion, so I went for it. No regrets so far, but the system should not be restrictive regardless of any individual’s specific circumstances
Maybe I’m overly cautions or untrusting but I wouldn’t sign an indefinite contract with my own mother so of course for a job in a country that is not my own. Things change and people change. Someone might be trustworthy today and be a snake the next.
yea you are just been realistic, and i support that. 5yr is quite a long party with the devil
No, you’re not overly cautious or untrusting. You just have good common sense, which, it seems, many people here lack!
Hear hear. Just look at the driving behaviour and you soon realise that common sense isn’t common.
Or the drinking behavior 😉
And smoking. by the way what time is the rugby club open today I’m thirsty 😉
Not even with your mom??!!
Well, you are lucky you have the CHOICE to decide whether u sign the contract or not. Migrant workers, especially in the lower grade category, doesn’t usually have a choice. The desperate situation on their end will be easily taken advantage of. They will sign on anything to get a job.
If the State doesn’t protect their rights with the proper laws, the employers will take take advantage of them.
Exactly..
Amber I’m not sure what your problem is with an indefinite contract..most employment contracts in most countries (for citizens of that country) are simply indefinite contracts that terminate when either party excercises their right to do so. It’s only here in Qatar that it seems it will become a chain around ones neck.
Most contracts here with big companies are open ended contracts. Projects usually have x yearly contracts. We’ve been on an open contract for nearly eight years now. No problems. It will be interesting to see what happens in these situations now. Will companies play with the law and start doing only five year contracts. In so many ways this could backfire on Qatar completely.
The government has given with one hand and taken away with the other.
The main point here is not the 5 years itself, it’s when the 5 years really start? is it from the contract start date (which could be 3 or 4 years back in some cases) or from the law implementation date (which up in the future)?
If it’s the second, then most employees are doomed.
How about all employers now forcing employees to renew the contract 🙁
This i know as a fact from my work experience, (Labor Department doesn’t accept any contract to be legalized unless it mentions the actual start date of the employment), so the contract date will be from today but the duration of the contracts always starts from your first working date.
Because you are thinking of yourself.
your devil must be cool then
very cool
Most of the poor labourers here will sign anything as they are desperate. Often they are also illiterate.
So, if I sign a contract in French, and I don’t speak French, I can just say, “well, I don’t speak French, so this contract is not binding?” Sorry, but they sign those contracts back home, so their governments should make sure they know what they’re signing.
Missing the point here. They are very very poor , disempowered, uneducated and just sign. Where you sir are educated and understand the implications of signing a contract. In any event the contract is null if either party are incapable of understanding, which is the case, but is not enforced in Qatar.
Is this really an argument you wish to make? That people with no education shouldn’t be able to make their own choices and be responsible for those choices? If we follow that logic, then how can we trust them to switch employers?
Would you apply the same rule to the contract and agreements they sign back home with employers there or with the people who lend them money?
No that is not the point I am making. The fact they are desperate for a job and very much in a one down position when it comes to them signing on is the point. Suggesting that I would consider anyone’s ability to make decisions baed on their education is ridiculous . They are poorly educated due to their life situation not because of any lack of intelligence. I am merely pointing out that they have very different pressures upon them than what you or I do.
I think you’ll find that in most reasonable countries the onus is on all signatories to ensure the contract is understood by all parties and not signed under duress. If it is found not to be a contract would normally be considered null and void.
If I may ask, how do you exactly measure and prove the whole, “most reasonable countries the onus is on all signatories to ensure the contract is understood by all parties and not signed under duress”? I have read way too many stories in the followup of the 2009 financial crisis where people in the U.S. where losing their homes because there were these clauses in their agreements with the banks that allowed the banks to increase the interest rate to a level they couldn’t pay or some such tactic.
The thing is, other country government’s leave it up to an individual person to decide what contracts they get in to, and what they don’t. What is happening in Qatar is that people that are desperate and willing to accept an exceptionally low salary are being targeted and exploited, because they will sign anything!
I know of a laborer who worked in our office through a labor supply company and he explained to me that during Ramadan they did not get any reduced working hours, and if they worked less hours, it was deducted from their pay, or suspended. Qatari Companies (because they all have to be 51% Qatari owned) are exploiting staff because they know these Nepali laborers cannot speak English. In a way, they are able to make up their own law because the laborers don’t know any better.
Doesn’t matter if they scrutinize every word of the contract in their home country. (Assuming of course they can all read in the first place). The contract they get on arrival here is often very different and how many times do we hear of people being recruited for one job in their own country to arrive here and find they are contracted out to do something entirely different with no chance of being allowed to return home for at least two years.
That’s a different issue and you won’t hear me arguing against ensuring that Qatar work on ensuring that this practice should be stopped. However, this really goes back to the home countries and the recruitment agencies back there who are responsible for this.
I know lots of people that are on these contracts. They are free to leave but won’t get an NOC.
Well, they shouldn’t have signed those indefinite contracts to begin with.
And the other option is return to the village with no income. Power imbalance my man.
How is that power imbalance Qatar’s fault? You speak as if Qatar has the power to prevent them from choosing to work in other countries? You’ll find people with university degrees, in Qatar, the U.S. and elsewhere, who work as sales people or even as janitors and such.
Here’s an idea; why don’t all those bleeding hearts countries scrutinizing Qatar offer the laborers jobs? Maybe Sharon Borrow can talk to Tony Abbott and the rest of common wealth about that.
I’m not saying it’s Qatar’s fault I’m merely stating the obvious situation they are in. It’s a world wide problem. As far as Tony Abbot is concerned don’t even start me on that. As a citizen of Australia I am fully engaged in agitating for change and highlighting the absolute shameful and in humane treatment his government is subjecting asylum seekers too. Australia’s human rights history is not great but I acknowledge it and push for reform through appropriate channels. Again I am not blaming Qatar or it’s citizens just highlighting the issues faced by migrant workers.
If only it was that simple. Until the announcement of this proposed change, an indefinite contract, in my opinion, was a better option than a definite contract. But the truth of the matter is that no employment contract in Qatar is worth anything because it can be terminated by the employer at any time…no reason or compensation required (as per Qatar labour law)
I believe that per the labor law, every employer is entitled to an end of service gratuity depending on their years of service.
If the compensation is for the termination of the contract, well, people are laid off from their jobs all the time all over the world with no compensation what so ever. It’s of course depends on the what the labor laws say in each country, but unless someone can prove they were wrongfully terminated, it’s very unlikely they’ll get any compensation.
The problem is that the labor law here allows termination for no reason at all…therefore there is no such thing as wrongful termination. That in turn means the employment contract is worthless.
They are not reasonable. All Employers need to do is hand out 5 year or indefinite contracts and then you are stuck for 5 years. That is exactly what they will do.
Don’t sign it then.
Yes that will definitely solve everything. Not!
Yep dont sign and return to Syria, or Asia back to the village with no income to support the family, or Egypt…power imbalance is huge when contracts are negotiated. Its a lot more complicated then simply…dont sign them.
So we have to pay for it? with our money and security? You’re not making sense.
Actually, you’re not making sense
This whole comment section and article is only one side of the argument, which is exactly why you won’t understand the bigger picture.
Well, help me understand then
DN should do a better job covering stories to educate their readers, maybe they can start by including all the parties in their articles.
Well they’ve made this comment section available, anyone can put their view forward. Go for it
No point in discussing on a platform known to be at one extreme.
Well please enlighten us with the other side. I am genuinely interested.
Oh, it’s called common sense you see. It proposes such radical ideas like not signing a paper before you read it and such 😉
Well, if only we all had your wisdom
No not at all. All I am highlighting is that returning home is often not an option for some. Therefore the balance of power between them and the employer is unbalanced. If perhaps they were as fortunate as you and I they would not sign on.
Learn to negotiate for what you feel is more acceptable. People need to stop blaming employers for everything and accept that they as an employee also hold some responsibility for their situation.
That’s a reasonable argument if the negotiations start on an even footing but they don’t. Far from it in fact.
Still one point is not clear at all. As of now, to change jobs, there are two options. Get NOC or leave the country for two years and come back. With reference to today’s proposed system, if someone is having indefinite contract and want to switch job before 5 years, he would still require NOC. But what if the employer doesn’t give the NOC in this case ? Again a two year ban or what ??? Can anyone answer it.
Good question. Don’t think they’ve clarified that yet, they just said you’d still need permission before the 5 year period ended.
Yes, this is what they said. You’d still need permission before the 5 year period, but what if the permission is not given. Blank____ 🙁
What’s crazy is that the situation for indefinite contracts is now more onerous than the existing system. I also wonder if some employers had inside knowledge. I know of one company that recently changed all contracts to indefinite.
Very true..
I thought that it mentioned that the two year ban had been abolished? This would be good for mobile people, especially if timed right with end of rental contract and no loan. Not good for families who would have to start the process again of moving over – wait for RPs, find new schools etc.
Its still not clear.. Got one reply from @dohanews that either I would have to complete my 5 years or leave country for 2 years. Still not sure about it..
Farhan, an indefinite contract can be terminated any time giving notice period stipulated in the contract. You have the option to resign, cancel visa permanently, go back to home country and come back with a new employer on a new visa. No restrictions apply as two year ban is abolished.
Ah, another fresh user, welcome, please do share your positive opinions with us
financial wrongdoing…what does that mean
you took money that’s not yours, you didn’t pay back a loan etc
If an employee does loss for the company for example any loss in an order, does that also go into financial wrong doing…because some companies to pay for loss in an order..is that right thing to do
Very bad & sad to hear about complication of exit permit. in our company we were obtaining it in a moment. now you have to wait 3 days. what if the minister is expat and his mom died! while we are jailed those 3 days waiting them to give us the freedom to exit!!!!
poor country treating people as slave such as we are in big prison.
The new labor laws seems still in the favor of Employer…Same rules but twisted softly…
“favor”? – isn’t that a bit of an understatement?
hmmm..so if one has a loan from a bank and he resigns from his company. he was regular in paying his installments etc… so the bank cannot stop him from leaving the country temporarily but can his sponsor stop him just because he as a loan from a bank that he is not liable for?
‘Talking loud, saying nothing’ comes to mind………..
All mouth and no trousers.
a lot of smoke but saw no roastbeef ….
all retch and no vomit
Nothing of substance has changed. Wait for the international backlash..
exactly….Now they will understand the real story themselves
I am getting prepared to read some good stuff
Of course nothing has changed. They have moved it from employers to the government. Which in Qatar is the same thing
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/qatar-reform-labout-laws-outcry-world-cup-slaves
Grear Job Qatar announing the whole story without implementation. Now the people who already are abusing workers will have time to think how to play with employees for example re writing the contract of all the exsisting employees and making them unlimted one..
Scary thought but a realistic one.
Doha gangnam style….op op!
Or the people who have finished a 5 year period with their employer already might be asked to sign 3-5 year fixed term contracts before the new laws are put in place.
Hadn’t thought of that but you are totally right on…!!!
as far as exit permit system is concerned any employee putting application on MOI system without notifying will be stopped by emplorer stating he have important piece of work to do. which will make this thing to go to the arbitration and employee cannot leave on time. Worse we are talking about layman labour to file online exit permit request, good luck with that (Qatar come on they dont have computers)
They could have announced it, after getting complete approval, from relevant departments..doubt,.. it may take long time for implementation.
So nothing of any substance which is very disappointing and as others are saying all subject to further review and approval. Also the issue of exit visas being processed through the government and then further to be reviewed by the employer who can object to me seems a regressive step.
We really shouldn’t be looking at the proposed changes only from the critic point of view? compared to the current laws, this changes -if implemented very soon- would be a big leap forward for Qatar, it’s a good kick off for the change process that needs more steps in the near future.
You make a good point. To take a country that has been fixed on doing things a specific way for such a long time, into a new era, can take an equally long time. This may very well be step one of ‘the twelve step program’, and really only to ease employers here into realizing that not every employee is a criminal looking to run away with their company property, money etc. Change takes time, and can’t happen instantly without a massive backlash.
Yeah, how long before the next step? 10 years?
Could be 10 years before this step is actually implemented, to be honest!
Change only takes time when people take too much time to change.
Big leap forward? Please explain
A big leap, but we didn’t see the pit at the end of the leap..!!!!!!!!!
Are you serious! This will further damage Qatar in the eyes of the international community.
They are joking, right? This baby-step is to be the big change? This?
Is there any good news for ” Project visa ” holders who are not able to change their sponsorship to the new company, even if the current company provides NOC and needed papers.
Usual Qatar vagueness! so we are moving to binding contracts between employer and employee and exit permit only required if an employee is leaving for good? If so, this is good news, it means we all get the option to sign a new contract (within 1 year of this law coming into place, Sept I believe) therefor an option to negotiate new salary or look elsewhere in Qatar for a better contract. Stop whinging folks! things are moving.
The problem is things are moving but in such tiny steps when there is so far to go.
And what is to stop employers from making employees sign indefinite contracts as soon as possible (before law kicks into place)? Refusers can then be terminated, refused NOC, and 2 year blacklisted under the current law. I can’t see employers insisting on anything less than the 5 year enslavement terms.
This announcement would be a good thing if:
– it is implemented as soon as possible.
– it is only a first step of many others that would improve and re-adjust the new approach.
I also think the 5-year commitment for indefinite contracts is a bit too much. If you are not feeling comfortable in your job and you happen to have signed an indefinite contract then I can’t figure out how you will be able to finish 5 years in that state of mind. I also find it nonsensical that your manager retains you for five years when he knows that you want to leave.
Two years would make more sense and should be adequate for an employer to recoup costs.
All a much ado about nothing really, approvals still required… sounds pretty typical really. So kafala to be eliminated, starting ‘by changing the name of the law’, yep that inspires confidence that real change will occur. Qatar should learn that underselling, but over-delivering works a little better than the oversell, followed by the usual disappointment….
….Looks like nothing much has changed or ever will……Nick McGeehan, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, has reviewed the entire report and said it “confirms the serious problems
All very disappointing I’m afraid, this was a huge opportunity for Qatar to show the people who have been invited into the country as guests to help build it that they are welcome and their human rights are recognised. I really hope my pessimism over both the timescale and the detail is misplaced.
Sugarcoating
opportunity lost !
More like opportunity deftly avoided?
At the company I work for we have a rolling contract, as I imagine many professionals in Qatar do. The announcement has in effect clarified that employees are now locked into a 5 year tenure with their employer. Prior to the announcement an NOC was negotiable between the employer and employee. And indeed, I have first hand knowledge of colleagues who successfully negotiated an NOC after as little as 1-2 years of service, often achieved through foregoing accrued holiday payouts or flights or staying on an extra month (or two). Now the employer can legitimately hold the employee for 5 years without issuing an NOC.
As far as I see it, the announcement today is a step back for everyone – a Lose/Lose/Lose.
The employer is left with a demotivated and resentful member of staff who may be, at best, unproductive, and, at worst, disruptive.
The employee is trapped in a job she/he does not want to be in at a salary that will not keep in pace with inflation and with little or no opportunity to ‘move up the ranks’ of promotion.
And Qatar, as a nation, suffers from a stagnant jobs market that will never create an environment for dynamic commerce in sectors other that O&G and Banking.
For the employees it is terrible but for the country it is a disaster.
It’s a 1st step and it’s in the right direction.
Hopefully a first step. Things do not change quickly especially with the amount of work on Qatar’s plate. I would like for someone to have said that there was more change on the way during the briefing. Please correct me if they did. This could be a feeler. See how the public reacts and then introduce the laws with the changes as requested. Lets see. World is watching.
I agree. It’s a first step.
If that direction is sideways…..
Sometimes you have to move sideways to be able to move forward 😉
Still the same with a little twist but renaming or re-branding it won’t work…
“QATAR – THE MODERN-DAY SLAVERY STATE”
Be free to change job after 5 years? Come on this is a tremendous move forward. Sorry forgot to say that you will be able to to switch in 5 years if you manage to survive that long here! Pollution, driving behaviour, fires… It’s just a matter whether you will see these 5 years.
we all believed this show today? I wonder what kind of articles will be on the international Press from tomorrow
So, new contracts will have to be implemented within 1year of these laws coming into force (sept 14) that means everyone is in a position to re-negotiate their contract, or choose a new one. So…to all u whingers out there, this is GOOD news!( freedom to negotiate higher salary or choose something else) apart from anything else, a change for the better and something to look forward to. I urge u all to read the full report before spilling out your negative BS instant reaction. Please, see the upside and if u cant, don’t wish for miracles that happen tomorrow.
Ground Control to Major Tom.
Does that mean that we all have a period where we are effectively free agents with a blanket NOC to work elsewhere; or, is it if we don’t manage to get the contract we want and don’t sign its effectively a resignation and you are out on our ear?
@Dohanews: did anyone say what will happen to multiple exit permits? I have the privilege of a MEP, will a similar system be retained? Sometimes you cannot just ask for permission to leave giving 72 hours notice, business dictates otherwise.
Why do I have the feeling that after considering these changes we were better off before?
They’d be mad to get rid of that. Half the western expats would leave.
I certainly would. I have to assume that the multiple-exit permit system will remain as-is, but this may just be wishful thinking.
But, that aside, this is clearly a step backward for the single-exit system based on the information provided so far. I am very afraid of the “emergency cases will be handled separately” clause. Having to get government approval — as opposed to the current system where a single exit is issued by default — can be nothing other than a disaster. I don’t look forward to the day when I have to tell a laborer whose mother just died back home, sorry, your exit permit is stuck in bureaucratic limbo. (In practice, I would probably just give everyone multiple-exits and suck up the cost.)
Even worse is the uncertainty about implementation. The government here (like most places) is obviously not capable of implementing things across departments very well. How many years of partial solutions, bureaucratic foot-dragging, lack of information, half-baked and ill-conceived system implementations, etc. will we endure?
Please, Qatar, just abolish the sponsorship system and go to a semi-free labor market like any modern country. Of course this would require a rule of law, including a functional court system, to enforce voluntary private contracts, and this region has zero track record of that.
I think you may have hit the nail on the head here. Many of the problems in Qatar – e.g. enforcing commercial contracts – are rooted in the inability to enforce anything with a functional court system. Until that is in place it is hard to imagine how there can be long term change for the better.
How? Couldn’t get out!
No specific mention was made, but officials said “the current exit visa system” would now pass through the Ministry of Interior, suggesting that requests for these will also be processed by the MOI rather than by employers after the new law is passed. No sign of them being scrapped so far.
Hmmm. All this has the makings of a mess of epic proportions.
However I am hopeful that the actual execution of the changes is managed better than the press conference, which – unless anything has been lost in translation – has fallen way short of expectations.
Shame really, when you see what the UAE managed to do in similar circumstances, just a couple of hundred miles down the road.
Victoria, can you please shed some light on the 72 hour issue? Is it for any temporary exit or permanent exit? Seems to be some contradictory info at the moment
We understand this to be for all exits – but as with all of this, we’ll need to wait for a new law to be passed before we can be absolutely certain of the process.
Thanks for replying, I also understood the statements to mean for all exits but had several people say it’s only for permanent. But as you say, nothing is set in stone yet
NOTHING CHANGED! IT’S STILL THE SAME GETTING WORST!!!!!!!YOU SHOULD ABOLISH NOC FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!!!!!HAVE MERCY ON US OH GOD TOUCH THEIR HEART!
You want more money, I get it
maybe just better working conditions…?
FREEEDOMMMMM!!!!!!
ABOLISH NOC! ABOLISH NOC! ABOLISH NOC!
Hahahahahaha,what a joke about the good news for expats,things will become more complicated by MOI implications,which is already a suffering body for all regarding visas,licensing and poor communication with expats.I wonder how the human rights watchdogs will react to this good for nothing announcement .
They have not implemented anything,but given time for employers to modify things for the permanent suffering of all laborers .
I hope this joke and mockery of the big announcement will not make the authorities a laughing stuff at the international platform,which is still in recognition phase for this country
.Good Luck
something but different way of it
How is this going to be enforced? I mean they cant even enforce road rules.
And if they can’t enforce the road rules how are they ever going to run the World Cup?
How did they run the Asian Games ( The least attended Asian Games I believe) ? Paying hush money to the organizers and behaving like an ostrich and burying your head in the hole when the rest of the world criticizes.
How does the saying go? ‘You can put make-up and lipstick on a pig…but it’s still a pig’ comes to mind. :-/
Pig? HARAM HARAM !!!!
No it’s a halal pig once the lipstick is applied
Shhhhh. You can criticize the government, moan about Qatar and ridicule the driving. But don’t mention the ‘P’ word or we will be shut down. 🙂
indeed probably not the best saying you could have chosen
OK. How about we go with ‘Much ado about nothing.’ 😉
I think this is a big step in the right direction. Well done Qatar!
Really? I think you have paid too many visits to QDC or you work for the MOI
No QDC license, but I am a British Expat. I was at the conference yesterday – all sounds positive to me.
I think people massively over estimate how much effort sponsors/employers will go to. We’ve changed the law from making sponsors go out of their way to say yes, to going out of their way to say no. 90% of employers will not go to that effort unless they have a genuine legal concern – in which case they are in the right to do so.
Automatic right to change sponsor after 5years – would have been better if it was 2years but still a good move, and many of the lowest income workers will be over the 5 year limit by now and will benefit.
Minimum housing standards agreed with international communities. That’s a good thing.
Minimum wage agreed with the embassies of each country (this wasn’t in the official press releasebut was covered in the Q&A at the conference) – that’s a good thing.
I didn’t say this is perfect – but is IS A BIG STEP in the RIGHT DIRECTION.
5 years is still good? Most low income workers’ stint doesn’t last beyond 4 years at most
Minimum housing standards, yes sounds great, what exactly are they, where’s the list?
From Press Release (English version) “Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) will bw signing a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the International Labour Organisation this year to further support enforcement mechanisms” – this is not necessarily connected to housing standards – in the PR it comes after mentioning increasing housing inspectors by 300 this year (guess what – that’s ANOTHER good thing :p – these inspectors will also have judicial powers to hand out fines when employers/contractors break the new laws (again- that’s GOOD)). However, it does point towards the fact Qatar is working hard to bring standards to an acceptable international level.
As for 5 years – better if it was 2, but at least it’s in place.
well let’s wait until it’s signed & implemented shall we…
And 5 years is useless if most workers leave before that time is up because of tough conditions and inability to switch
There’s actually more good information in these comments than there is in the media.
Really, seems a bit suspicious
What’s stopping the companies from enforcing a fixed term contract for 3-5 years before the law is in place for the workers who have finished 5 years already? Not to mention the new exit permit system seems like a bigger hassle than the existing one.
New Exit Permit system sounds very straight forward to me – there’s a single point of application for everyone – that means if you’re confused you can literally ask anybody and they’ll be able to help – you won’t need to rely on PROs and Employers to distribute the information they think you need to know (another good thing).
It hasn’t been designed (or if it has it hasn’t been publicly released) yet, but I would be very surprised if it’s not an online form – another good thing. Getting access to internet is MUCH easier for labourers than getting access to the Employer/PRO, getting them to agree, then chasing them to print the right forms and sign them, and then leaving.
What’s stopping companies enforcing a fixed term contract for 3-5 years before the law is in place – nothing (that I know of)… but I’m not sure you can place blame for that on the government. They’re putting laws in place for the greater good that can serve for many years, of course there might be issues as we transition – I’m sure there always is. In the long run, these changes benefit the people of Qatar.
Every keeps referring to the exit permit system having a 72 hours no objection process. As far as I am aware this is for a Permanent Exit Visa. For a temporary one, no-one has any say. That was one of the first things mentioned yesterday. What the Permanent Exit Visa will give you (all assumptions BTW) is – the right to cancel a housing contract with no penalty, and basically an NOC to to return at any point – no 2 year period requiring an employers permission.
That wasn’t my understanding, but I might be wrong. It’s not clarified in the Press Release. I believe it’s for people that don’t have Multiple Exit Visas and want to leave (for any reason – including holidays).
As for Leaving permanently, another law being put in place is companies are no longer liable financially for employees’ debts. These will be controlled by Qatar’s Civil and Commercial Laws. This is good for both Employers (as they have less financial risk) and employees (as employers have less reason to keep them on and cause issues for them).
yes to you it’s straight forward, maybe not so much to people that don’t have access to a pc & the internet, much less know how to use it. They will still need to rely on their employer. Anyway, don’t want to rain on your parade anymore, soon enough we’ll see how good these changes are, after they’re actually implemented, after they’ve been considered and approved by the Shura council.
I meant the new exit permit sounds like a bigger hassle than existing systems for some. Case in example- For my exit permit, I apply through company network and I get it 2 days before I leave or so. If there is some problem with the MOI- company interface, I have to approach my company during working hours and get a manual exit permit done.
When the onus to issue the exit permit is on the MOI, and their “system” goes down, how will I get a manual permit done? Will there be a 24 hour center for this or will it be regular government working hours?
Regarding benefits of the system – The company can still object to any person’s exit permit with some bogus reason and delay it and depend on the slowness of the Government legal system to play around with an employee nevertheless.
All I see here is renaming of the existing system. It will be called “XYZ Contract system” instead of “Kafala”. The most abused category of workers – Labourers and Domestic workers are not going to get any respite from these “proposed” reforms.
when you say “you can literally ask anybody” for information in this country (and get the information!!!) I think you must be confused with another country….
It is baffling how someone can make that statement with such conviction, literally.
Don’t worry you will still be fed well.we are talking of labourers and not useless policy makers
Hmm, British expat. No QDC license. WAIT A MINUTE!!!
LOL!
You keep doing in that way
They did not mention anything for the people who have there own business and have to bare with a Qatari 51% owner who practically does nothing . I was actually expecting such statements from the government . Same rules different statement .
Exactly the reason why I won’t start a business here. No way!
Is there any good news for people who are under “project visa”. Though my Current company gave NOC and all necessary documents for Sponsorship change, Ministry of Labor rejected my application for transfer of Sponsorship, as I was under Project Visa. Hoping for best
No
It happened to me as well during 2013; I resigned my current
job (obtained NOC) in order to join other Organization, but at the last Labor Dept.
rejected my application!! Basically Lost
both Jobs!!
I wouldn’t have resigned if I knew my visa Status Were Project!!
perhaps this must have come as a massive anti climax at the end of a nice thrilling movie show
What’s the point of raising the penalty for retaining a passport to 50,000 if it’s not enforced at 10,000. No need to raise it, just enforce it.
It looks good. Looks how stiff the penalties are for driving violations in Qatar and how well the existing laws are strictly adhered to reducing death on the roads……
Smoke and mirrors. Pure deception. Nothing has changed. So angry.
.
The saddest thing I can take from the comments below is that you all seem to accept the principle of a non-competitive labor market. That slavery exists in the 21st century is bad enough – but that you all agree to it is truly shocking.
Qatar , Please let me go my home country, I am not greedy to earn, I need to see my family and enjoy coming eid festival with them, I applied for a leave after completing one year, but still not accepted , this shows the big slavery , qatari nationals are floating in money, but keep in mind allah is not partial with human being, it may be qatari, nepali , indian, srilankan, british , for him all are his creation, he is the great justice.
Well that is a blatant human rights violation and violates the UN charter on freedom of movement as a basic human right
Sad! disappointed!!!!!!!!!!!!
call to abolish the NOC PLEASEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lot of new names in the comments today and some seem very knowledgeable and in well crafted English. I wonder if they’re from a PR company..
Hah! I did think it’s a bit odd how a few well versed commentators suddenly decided to create accounts and go out of their way to make their point. But let’s not be overly paranoid, I’m sure they just feel it’s their duty to counterbalance our unfounded pessimism
LOL – I hope (and suspect) you’re right..
How can there be a change when majority of the “blue color” job companies are owned by the top officials of Qatar, this proposal is a redefinition of the kafala law, it does not change a single thing, 90% of the contracts here are rolling contracts (unlimited but renewable every 1 or 2 years) not fixed. self interest should be pushed aside if Qatar wants to make a heading with its MODERN DAY SLAVERY LABOUR LAWS.
I am now more concerned about my exit permit than before. At the moment I apply straight to my employer seven days before leaving: My employer will grant the permit and I should have the permit 3+ days before my flight. Under the new rules I will apply to the government for my permit which will allow my employer 72 hours to object. If my employer objects, I can request a council to arbitrate which will take up to 72 hours to answer. How am I better off here? With the present system at least I’ve got three to four days to change or cancel my flight; with the new system I have at best a day.
i still need an exit permit but now I have less time available to me than before. Does anyone know if the new system allows an earlier application for the permit?