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Hisham Al-Jundi
Doha
The new Labour Law regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriate workers in Qatar comes into force from Tuesday.
The Law No. 21 of 2015 abolishes the Kafala (sponsorship) system and replaces it with a new contract-based system which provides greater flexibility, freedom and protection to all workers in Qatar.
The new measures take effect one year after the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani signed the reforms into law.
Under the new rules, expatriate workers will no longer need permission (No-objection certificate) from their employers to change jobs if they complete the fixed-term contracts. Those with open-ended contracts can also change jobs without their existing employers' permission after putting in five years of service.
However, moving to a new job requires approval from the Ministry of Administrative Development Labour and Social Affairs, and the new job must be in the same field.
Expats have the right to permanently leave the country before or after completing the duration of their contract, after notifying the employer according to the terms of the contract.
If the employer rejects a leave request, the migrant worker can appeal to the Exit Permit Grievances Committee, which has to respond to all requests within three days.
The applicant will be able to leave the country unless he is wanted in connection with any active criminal proceedings, or has defaulted on payment of any debt in Qatar that remains unsettled.
Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs HE Dr Issa bin Saad al Jafali al Nuaimi said,"Qatar is grateful to the millions of workers who have come to Qatar to build our nation's infrastructure. The new law is the latest step towards improving and protecting the rights of every expat worker in Qatar."
"We welcome any comment or constructive criticism, and will continue to do so in the future. However, we urge the international community not to draw any definitive conclusions until there has been time to see the new law in action. At its core, we are doing this because we believe it is the right thing to do and because it provides tangible new benefits to expatriate workers. This is why we will work diligently to ensure it is properly implemented, including increasing our monitoring capabilities and hiring more compliance inspectors to tighten the net on companies who violate the law," he added.
Nuaimi said a joint committee of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and MADLSA was set up a year ago to spread awareness among business owners and employees about the new law.
Nuaimi thanked all the workers who contributed in building the country's infrastructure.
He said 2.1 million workers from 180 countries were provided jobs in Qatar and the country is keen to guarantee them proper accommodation and safety.
The minister said that in the past six months as much as QR28.9 billion were transferred outside of Qatar by the workers to their home countries, and that their wages are free of taxes or any other deductions.
He said the Wage Protection System (WPS) ensures direct transfer of salaries to the workers on time."Employers found to have confiscated passports can be fined up to QR25,000 per worker," he added.
On the role of the General Directorate of Border Passports and Expatriates Affairs (GDBPEA), Brig Mohammed al Atiq said newcomers must sign their contracts and get them certified by the MADLSA as a condition to issue their work visa.
