Less than a month remains before Qatar makes drastic changes to its sponsorship system, which critics have said left workers open to exploitation and abuse.

Qatar’s Emir signed into law new legislation governing the entry, exit and residency of foreigners and set a deadline of Dec. 13 for its implementation.

While changes to the law have been lauded by critics for simplifying rules of foreign workers in Qatar, some say the law stopped short of addressing the key issues of exit permits.

Here are the top five changes explained:

1. In the event that the sponsor obstructs a foreign worker’s departure, he or she may seek recourse at the Foreign Nationals Exit Grievances Council, whose formation, purview, organizational structure, and official proceedings shall follow in accordance with a decree to be declared.

2. Employees of open-ended contracts can move to another employer after spending a minimum of five years with the first employer.

3. Two year-ban on a new work visa will no longer be applicable.

4. QR50,000 fine and up to three-year jail terms to be handed to any sponsor who allows his foreign worker to work for other parties without official approval.

5. Up to QR25,000 fine for keeping or taking away passports of foreign workers without their permission.

Read Also: DON'T DO THIS IN QATAR OR OTHER GCC STATES! IF YOU CAUGHT YOU WILL FACE FINE, JAIL, DEPORTATION AND GCC-WIDE BAN

9 IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW LABOUR LAW

1. Contract based Employment: All expats in Qatar would now be entirely governed by contracts

2. Ban period under termination: Workers who terminate their job contracts and leave the country before completion of the contract period are not allowed to return to the country before the end of the contract period.

Worker who has a four years contract and he completed three years with the current sponsor and left without completing one more year cannot come back until next one year till his earlier contract period is over.

3. No Ban under completion of contract: Those who complete their contracts under the law can come back to Qatar next day of their departure if he/she found new job offers. Workers who complete their contracts can easily come back without facing any ban.

4. No new contracts to be signed: There is no need for the companies to make new contracts with their employees after implementation of the new law but the existing contracts will be valid as long as the employee is willing to continue in his job.

5. Contract period: Date he has signed the fresh employment contract will be the date from his contract would be counted.

All types of contracts will start from the date of enforcement of the new law regardless of how many years the employee had served in the company but this does not mean the previous years of service are not counted.

6. Domestic helps/Kadamas: Law will apply to domestic help as well.

7. Signing contracts: If the employer has agreed to hire the worker and processed his/her entry visa for work, the worker can sign the contract after arriving in Qatar. However, in case he refuses to sign the contract, he would be forced to go home, 

8. Five years maximum term: The work contract needs to be certified by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs and the maximum period for work contract is five years.

9. Four years ban: If a foreign worker is fired as a punitive measure and he did not appeal his dismissal or his plea was rejected by a court, he shall not be permitted to come back to Qatar before the passage of four years, states Article 26 of the new law.

Share This Post