Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA) is currently working with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to address cases of false absconding charges against workers, according to MADLSA Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs HE Mohamed Hassan Al Obaidly.
In a virtual panel discussion on Labour Reforms in Qatar co-organised by MADLSA and the Embassy of Canada in Doha on Monday, Al Obaidly reiterated that employers cannot resort to filing absconding cases against workers who complain as a means of retaliation.
“Currently absconding cases will not allow a worker to change employer, of course, if this came before the request. But, we are currently working with the Ministry of Interior to make sure that employers cannot file absconding cases against workers if they decide to change their employers. I would like to reiterate that employers cannot display a retaliatory behaviour against the workers who complain. But if the employee is claiming the worker has left work they have to submit such complaint before the ADLSA and we will be following up on the case,” Obaidly said.
