Contracts may replace ‘sponsor’ system
It is expected that the number of workers recruited to Qatar for infrastructure projects might go up to 1mn, but in phases.
Qatar intends to drop the sponsorship system for expatriates working in the country, replacing it with a contract which will be binding on the employer and the employee, a senior official has said.
“As and when the new system comes into effect, a contract signed by the two parties (the employee and the employer) will be determining the rights and duties of both,” said Hussein al-Mulla, undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, in an interview to the local Arabic daily Al-Arab.
He did not give any time-frame for the introduction of the “contract” system
“We have banned companies from holding the passports of any employee and this is a positive step towards developing the contract process. It affirms the intention to abolish the issue of sponsorship,” he pointed out.
He explained that the mere word “sponsor” caused a myriad of troubles with international organisations.
“Consequently, we should eradicate this term and substitute it with a contract between the two parties guaranteed by the Ministry of Labour. They (international organisations) say the word sponsor conveys a picture of enslaving the worker more than anything else,” he said.
“However, should the new system be implemented, the cancellation of the contract does not allow the foreigner to switch jobs automatically,” al-Mulla said.
“A foreigner can resign to take up another, maybe more lucrative job. However, the resignation annuls the contract and the expatriate will have to go home and the new employer will draw up a new contract with him that will allow him to return to Qatar,” he said.
He also affirmed that there was no justification whatsoever for any company to delay the salary of its employees. “This issue is of utmost importance and HE the Minister of Labour himself emphasises that workers must get their rights in the due time.”
Al-Mulla expected that the number of workers recruited to Qatar for infrastructure projects might go up to 1mn, but in phases.
The official said that Qatar had submitted a suggestion to the GCC that a maid who absconded from her employer in Qatar should be banned from working in any member country. “This aims at curbing this phenomenon.”
He said that new markets were being opened to recruit domestic workers, mostly African countries such as Tanzania and Kenya. “Eastern European countries have also agreed to send domestic workers to the state but Qatari families would not approve them because of the high cost.”
“In most of our meetings with the International Labour Organisation, they inquire about the non-existence of labour unions that defend the rights of workers. Year after year the pressure is increasing on us,” al-Mulla said.
He explained that there had been efforts to establish a Labour Committee to protect the interests of the workers, whether Qataris or expatriates. “However, the committee should be formed of Qataris only. Expatriates will have the right to vote but will not be nominated as members of the board,” he added.
“We had a labour committee during the days of the oil companies. However, the situation in the Gulf is somewhat different now because Qataris rarely work as labourers,” he said.
“The Labour Committee project is being carried out with the assistance of the Arab Labour Organisation, the International Labour Organisation and some Gulf trade unions. They came and studied the circumstances in Qatar.”
The private sector is to be incorporated into this committee and it would function independently from the Ministry of Labour. The committee would have the right to receive the complaints of workers and address them accordingly. The project had been discussed by the cabinet and subsequently referred to the Advisory Council.
“We are now awaiting the Emiri approval for this project: HH the Emir is personally interested in this issue,” al-Mulla said.
Source: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=502969...
This is an irony, one must say:
The Govt will insist that the employees must have their pass ports with them but definitely they need to have an NOC from sponsor to exit from the country. Then what is the point of having pass ports with them if they cannot fly out whenever they want?
What is the purpose of this two year ban? Is it to punish the employee for understanding his worth and freedom of choice? Is it a punishment to the expartiates for unwilling to work under unfavourable circumstances?
Consider abolishing two year ban and exit permit bondage if QATAR wants to bask in the sunshne of fame and changed status!!
You cannot have the best and worst at the same time.
This is an irony, one must say:
The Govt will insist that the employees must have their pass ports with them but definitely they need have an NOC from sponsor to exit from the country. Then what is the point of having pass ports with them if they cannot fly out whenever they want?
What is the purpose of this two year ban? Is it to punish the employee for understanding his worth and freedom of choice? Is it a punishment to the expartiates for unwilling to work under unfavourable circumstances?
Consider abolishing two year ban and exit permit bondage if QATAR wants to bask in the sunshne of fame and changed status!!
You cannot have the best and worst at the same time.
No time frame yet-... LOL.... good luck!!!
Your Opinion: Qatar intends to drop the sponsorship system
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this rule worst than sponsor system .. it means even your contract is finished .. you have to go back home and come back again .. if you wanna switch the job .. u have to go back to your country ... wot crapp ... common .. think on it .. if ur family is under your sponsor .. it means you have to go to your homeland with your family .. with your kids ... and then come back again.. and again family status headache and accomodation headache... if there will NOC .. atleast it is better you dont need to go back .. HUH...
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the lawmakers are the same as our employers. what do you think fellas?
manly palmer hall quotes:
"half-truth is the most dangerous form of LIES...
Oh dear me trolls are posting in the main forum.
Same dookie with a different smell
brit, NOC is still not mentioned. Today you also can resign and to "draw up a contract" with another company even without leaving Qatar. Or you can leave Qatar and come back to work with another Company. It is very much possible, no probs. With one little condition: you need a NOC letter.
Where in the new rules is it indicated that "drawing up a new contract" won't require a NOC from the previous "contactor"?
these news articles are just that...news, more likely a 'feature' article..above the horoscope section.
that is wot advantage them as they do not follow the rules made for all.
You may be a manager of the company but you will have a labour contract registered in labour department.
Since you are not allowed to change your job and you can not leave this country on your own will and because of your financial greed, all the working expatriates out here are bonded labours with golden shackles and chains.
May this blot be removed for the face of richest country in the world.
So going home is necessary for what reason? I do not get it.
“A foreigner can resign to take up another, maybe more lucrative job. However, the resignation annuls the contract and the expatriate will have to go home and the new employer will draw up a new contract with him that will allow him to return to Qatar,” he said.
sponsor.. contractor.. isnt it the same? it's not about the name, it's all about NOC. And who told you that the NOC will be cancelled with the new system?
while in Qatar. That's the basic difference. So if anyone finds another employer, it is imperative that one has to go home first and come back with a new contract. I think this issue have been circulating a long time ago, the usual two-year contarct will then be the norm by then. So one need to stay for two years (for a contract to expire normally) or resign and end the contract. For sure, they will still be particular to money matters about the contract (meaning the benefits etc etc).
A rose by any other name......
Reading between the lines, it seems to be the same except the employee can resign and go home to be brought back by the new company..
Yup u r rite
Marcoz nandos and olympics 2012...dont just go off the handle and start insinuating me about biting the hand that feeds me...and all that crap...
FACTS...
Maybe 6-8 months ago(not too sure)the Foreign Minister himself gave out statements about Car prices being the highest in qatar ,compared to the rest of the GCC countries and said that the Govt. would IMPLEMENT laws to address this issue....WHERE ARE WE TODAY....same old ..same old......The Business groups that run these businessess have a STARNGLE HOLD ...and wouldnt let this happen.........same applies to this so called consideration of revamping labour laws......just a SMOKE SCREEN........
Insha'allah ;)
in-sha'allah. in-sha'allah. Any mention of time. I got it, I got it at 9:34AM MST
Insha'allah! ...
insha'allah!
Right, any mention of time is followed by "insha'allah.
Mnaid
Insha'allah
I'm here a week and i'm already talkin Qatar politics..
I'm assimiliating!
At this rate i'll be speaking basic Arabic by July..
Masha Allah!
But of course they are! A stern warning...just like the little cardboard cutouts they put on the side of the roads...a smiling policeman wagging his finger to remind people to uphold the traffic rules...yup!
There is also a labour law for daily working hours, but there are many other Companies not following it. Are they even been warned for this?
I think someone is gonna get fired coz of this 'News Article' and thats not gonna be from GT ;)
This will be implemented over the next few months people dont worry ... God is great ....
hahahahahaha
Basically as with all material in the Gulf Times a huge headline followed by very little by way of detail and substance.
Nothing to get excited on this. This is just a press release for the world to know that they are doing something about it.
I was excited when I read this today morning but in the absence of a concrete plan this news article looks like an attempt at showing a carrot to the hungry caged rabbit.
Be positive Guys!!
at least qatar intends to do it now. things have eventually started to change and the market has become vibrant now.
the new "contract" will come to place though the terms or ban period or exit system is being addressed.
lets welcome this statement and wait for the Emir's decision
Labor unions/committee will consist only of Qataris, However Expat will have right to vote,
Why they want us to vote?
"Qatar intends… As and when … He did not give any time-frame … affirms the intention …we should eradicate … should the new system "
Forgive me for not holding my breath.
“We have banned companies from holding the passports of any employee and this is a positive step towards developing the contract process" - my company still keeps my passport. and it really really pain in the $!$@#$ to request for a passport release just to open a bank account. good luck!
agree with prism
i read the article in al arab yesterday, i was more focused on qatari workers v/s their emplyers. today's article is more about expat.
for me, it's just a probe: it's the undersecretary who is saying this; not the secretary, nor the ruling elite. they will just study the reactions. if the reactions are favorable toward changing the law, it would change. however if many resist and vehemently attack it, than they will all deny responsiblility and blame el mulla!
Arien i dont think NOC will be abolished, maybe they'll abolish the exit permit system and will be replaced by keeping your passport with the company...
lets hope for the best :)
what about "EXIT" the Chain that bounds the bonded workers?
I go with Yaghazali in this ,Maximum we can expect is..
They will abolish the NOC stuff and incorporate it in to the contract. End of the day the slavery will go on.
Exactly Prism.
This smacks of the "New Media Law" that has been drafted and drafted and proposed and drafted and amended and drafted and proposed and drafted for how many years now?
If you ain't gonna pee, get off the pot.
Let's just cross the bridge when we get there:) I hope this is not just lip service.
Why keep on telling this and that...if you want to do it, just do it and then publish it and I am sure no newspaper would dare to publish something till they allow it, I mean the discussions until the decision. So, just do it.
LOL !! Spot on Ukeng!!!!
and they actually made a media release on this?
i know lots of companies holding their staff's passport until now.
Sounds to me like almost the same system with a different name.
This is the greatest joke: "He also affirmed that there was no justification whatsoever for any company to delay the salary of its employees."
And then there are numerous requests on QL on what to do if the company fails to pay. It shouldn't happen, right?
Qatar and its laws.
mouth watering offers which will never come into existence in middle-east...
“A foreigner can resign to take up another, maybe more lucrative job. However, the resignation annuls the contract and the expatriate will have to go home and the new employer will draw up a new contract with him that will allow him to return to Qatar,” he said.
how bout the finish contract? do we need to go back in our own country??? ahmmmm
LP is right ... watever some law's they'll goin to changes, employer will not listen.....they still still holding our passport and still there's a company letting the employee to pay their visa.... which is on the laws company will hold everything .... medical etc...
I stopped reading when the article said the contract would be 'binding'.
Binding when it suits, and ignored when it doesn't.
Just tell me when they will abolish the exit permit system. just a pain in the back when one has to leave in any Emergency. Its no fun looking for a sponsor or his representative in the early hours of Friday morning..:(
The rest is just a another name for the same system with the twisting of the words..
The interesting thing is Mr. Mulla's abstract honesty about the reasons behind taking these steps and new measures. Not because the current system is unjust and causes a lot of suffering for workers. No, because we are under pressure from international organizations!!!
Of course, many things need addressing still. Like the 2 years ban, conditions under which a contract can be annulled, exit permit, etc.
Yet, it is a step in the right direction.
Interesting Read....
as TB said won't believe it till it happens.
“A foreigner can resign to take up another, maybe more lucrative job. However, the resignation annuls the contract and the expatriate will have to go home and the new employer will draw up a new contract with him that will allow him to return to Qatar,”
Fine - but the article is silent on the salutory issue of the 2 year ban - will that be eradicated as well?? Any guidance from HR QL'ers??
“We have banned companies from holding the passports of any employee and this is a positive step towards developing the contract process. It affirms the intention to abolish the issue of sponsorship,” he pointed out."
The problem is that companies don't care what the laws are and still hold their employees' passports unless they threaten to go to court!
It's another Mickey Mouse farce.
They aren't going to significantly change anything just because it's the right thing to do.
Window dressing
This will be a slow and gradual process, actually more like natural evolution. The underlying principles of the existing poilicy will remain intact... so whether you call it sponsorship... contract... daffodil... it will still smell the same...
This statement is a very diplomatic way to put it, I admire that approach "Qatari families would not approve them (eastern Europe maids) because of the high cost"
Very, very interesting. But I won't believe it until it happens.
Thank you for sharing.