Abolishing Sponsorship System .. (Bahrain)
The title above is from the article of Mariam Al-Saad of the Peninsula Newspaper.
It is about Bahrain's move on abolishing the sponsorship system which gives the expatriates freedom of personal liberties (i.e., rightts to travel, marry, buy a car, bring family to the country, etc..)
Sorry, I cant give the link, guys.. their website is not updated. For those of you who has access to the said daily, its on Page 09 under Qatar Perspective.
I quote this from the article:
"This new freedom of movement will end the crisis of labourer escaping their sponsors, since dissatisfied employees can easily transfer occuptions without causing clashes with the police. Oftentimes, employees flee their jobs because their talents and aspirations stretch beyond the prospects offered to them. Those same positions may gladly be filled bu others with limited capabilities, overwhelmed by the challenging demands they face in their currrent occupations.
Free movement in the labour market will finally put an end to visa trading, imposition of royalties on workers in order to transfer employment, or having to beg sponsors for liberties that are every human's right.
There is no doubt that Bahrain's decision was influenced by increased international pressure from human rights organizations, which consider sponsorship a component of human trafficking. In its seventh annual list of worst human traffickers, the US State Department blacklisted 14 countries worldwide, four of which are in the GCC; namely, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar."
for now, here's another link with the same topic : http://blog.lmra.bh/en/archives/711
when will Qatar follow..? or will they ever?
I agree with deepb,
Then pay the competitive price or keep contract periods, like the rest of the world. Wouldn't that protect them?
From the employer/sponsor point of view, how could they reduce the risk of hiring a low paid (say) laborers which jump ship right after receiving their ID ? Wouldn't they also want to be 'protected' against such eventuality ?
Cheers
SK
Khattak, I was clear, I said 2000-3000 Qatari Riyals! around 200 - 300 BD
It might not be in the very near future but it is nice to think that there is a chance people could stay in Bahrain or Qatar without being sponsored - we have to be responsible for ourselves and there is the law afterall that we need to adhere. That would be the day.. hope in our lifetime.
Here's the old press release.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/qatar-could-follow-bahrain-in-scrapping-sponsorship-system-1.2090
There was a press announcement that Qatar was planning to become the second country after Bahrain to follow up in this way. I'll try to search a link for it.
That being said, I highly doubt its going to come into fruition in our lifetime :P
bleu...2000-3000 Bahraini Dinar means 20,000-30,000 QR....many Qataris would also be happy with that...wont they?
----------------------------------------------------------------Give me some SunShine......Give me some Rain
Give me another Chance...I wanna grow up once Again
but do you think.. Qatar will possibly abolish this law in the future? are they even thinking about it?
i heard they were formulating some laws about this before but until now, nothing is certain.
..ReaLitY haS a WaY oF snEaKinG uP aNd biTinG us iN tHe aSS..
bleu Lots of positives from the expat point of view, and lots of negatives looking at it from the employer's shoe. Unfortunately employer is the one to vote :(
I agree that it's a good thing, you also need to remember that many local Bahrainis are very satisifed with a QR2000-3000 salary...
I was stating the aims that were in the Bahraini press... People are still observing the positive and negative effects.
Arien ....I think No 4 could work...
But then ideally the employer should get his "team"...not be forced to make his team from 10 different countries...lol
so bleu.. you're saying they're only sugar-coating it?
i mean, i cant read the arabic form but the english part, it sound good to me.
..ReaLitY haS a WaY oF snEaKinG uP aNd biTinG us iN tHe aSS..
But still it makes a lot of difference...
1. Companies will have to behave better if it has to retain (good) workers...Nonpayment, bulling and hitting workers will no longer work.
2. Such companies will be exposed.
3. Buying & Selling "Work Visa" will be curtailed to a great extent.
4. Man could at least hope for a better job tomorrow.
5. Above all its fair!
bleu
1. It will increase the number of expats
2. skilled? labourers? Housemaid? I thought they are the mass
3. They will still be cheaper and productive than the local.
4.I doubt this helps.
5. Yeah , one positive point.
The sponsorship system continues in Bahrain, but a worker doesn't need a NOC to change sponsors...
The aim of what they did is promote:
1- Reducing % of expats.
2- Keeping only SKILLED expats.
3- Promoting the employment of Bahraini nationals by making expats EXPENSIVE.
4- Controlling the nationalities and makeup of the expat population from the Bahraini government, not the employers.
5- More fees!
Not abolished, but they "virtually break" the sponsorship system.
http://blog.lmra.bh/en/archives/645
http://blog.lmra.bh/ar/archives/2259
(Their Arabic text is VERY different from what they say in English)
Interesting, could be implemented here, but it's still a sponsorship system!
If system is adopted...fraud companies will not be able to operate....
Those that do not pay their workers on time, deduct the food Uniform and bed allowance from their wages.
Moreover people will be able to work as they are trained to do. A carpenter need not work as a plumber....an AC technician need not work as a Carpenter!
More over there will be better qualified and able workers offering to work in such an open environment.
sponsorship system is a modern slavery....
Dream on..
yea, well.. thats all i can do. :P
..ReaLitY haS a WaY oF snEaKinG uP aNd biTinG us iN tHe aSS..
Dream on. this has been going around the bush quiet long time. just nothing is happening.
A man chases a woman until she catches him. ~American Proverb.
hhhmmmm...
yea. everywhere should be free of this law. very binding.
..ReaLitY haS a WaY oF snEaKinG uP aNd biTinG us iN tHe aSS..
I wish,not only Qatar but every Gulf country follow Bahrain in abolishing the Inhuman Sponsorship laws
----------------------------------------------------------------Give me some SunShine......Give me some Rain
Give me another Chance...I wanna grow up once Again