Qatar Sponsorship law gets nod
Source : http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&month=F...
By MOBIN PANDIT and MOHAMMED SALEM
DOHA: Qatar yesterday issued a new sponsorship law that retains salient features of the previous legislation, which was enforced some 45 years ago.
The exit permit and sponsorship rules remain almost unchanged, but sponsors have been barred from keeping the passports or travel documents of their workers. Expatriate women in independent employment here can now sponsor their husbands and children and detailed regulations in this regard will be issued through a ministerial decree soon.
The new law (No. 4 of 2009) regulating the entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of foreigners was ratified by the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and will be enforced with immediate effect.
Qatari women married to foreigners will be allowed to sponsor their husbands and children.
A foreign worker dismissed from his job or quitting on his own can come back to Qatar for employment with another company only after two years from the date of his departure. He can, however, be hired by another company provided his existing employer gives him a release and the authorities approve it.
A worker whose services have been terminated by a company on serious charges (as per Article 61 of the Labour Law) can return to Qatar to take a job with another firm only after four years.
Workers or their dependents holding residence permits, who wish to stay outside the country for more than six months, can do so provided they seek the approval of the authorities beforehand or after the expiry of the six-month period by paying a fee, if their residence permit is valid for 60 days.
Children born to expatriates outside Qatar can be brought here until they attain the age of two years and application for their residence permit should be submitted within 60 days of their arrival. Wives and children of foreign workers holding a valid residence permit and visitors staying here for up to 30 days do not require an exit permit to travel out of the country.
Workers whose sponsors refuse to issue them an exit permit, or if the sponsors are out of the country or have died, can seek a clearance certificate from a competent court certifying that they do not have a court ruling or a case against them and they would be allowed to travel out of the country without an exit permit.
The sponsor is legally bound, under the new law to pay for the last rites of a worker who dies here. The sponsor has to bear expenses if the latter’s legal heirs wish to transport the body to his home country.
Foreign investors and those who buy property here will be issued residence visas along with their dependents provided they have good character and pass the health check-ups.
These visas will be issued for a period of five years which would be renewable once or several times for a similar period. It is not a prerequisite that their dependents work here. Foreign investors and property owners who are deported for some reason are to be given at least 90 days’ time to settle their commitments here so they can leave the country for good. The law provides for jail terms and fines for violating its provisions
Hi Arkasha,
Who applied for your son's Visa? is it your company or you.
I also is preparing my documents for my son's visa. Did you go to the immigration department at once or to Labor Department.
Thanks.
guys, my friend's current employer insisted that they will hold my friend's passport. another thing, their salaries were given very late. their company is continously losing for 3 consecutive years now
my friend's employer said they will not be given a release nor NOC... Can they file case to the labor for the grounds of not giving the salary on time and at the same time holding their passport?
How to Find Your One True Love????? (http://onetruelovenetwork.com/)
I applied for RP for my son recently , after this law amendment and it got rejected. No reason was give. I was told by my colleagues that I have to meet the officers in Labour Ministry and explain my stand to bring my son etc etc. . Due to this, I have lost the seat in a local school for him. So even if I beg mercy from the officers, getting a place in school is going to be disaster. So now having no choice my son has to stay away from me for the time being..
How is what's going on in Qatar akin to modern slavery? Are people being taken against their will from their homes and being forced to work here? I thought everyone came to Qatar on their own and choose to stay for the $$$. Doesn't everyone have to choice to leave?
Most who I have talked with would much rather be at home, but with there earnings here they can support two or three families in their own countries.
I would say this is closer to voluntary slavery, or what's the other word.... oh yea, life!
In the Emirates it is law that employers can't keep passports, but they do it anyways... who is going to stop them?
can any one tell me what kind of fine or punishment it will be for the sponsor who keep the passport and traveling doc's. i think nothing writ.
and why can they do something reasonable for this exit visa. because so many people suffer of this.
Hi Guys
How are all i was working in doha before 1.5 month and i went back to my home after my company didnt catch their promiss to me before i go qatar so now i have very good offer from another company but the NOC still problem İ heard that there is some changes in NOC LAW did any body have any idea about this issue thank you for all
corcaoich - You should never let your passport out of your sight. It's such an important document. Even at hotels you should never let them take it away to take down details. Without your passport you become a nobody. Regardless of the exit permit, taking employees passports is completely unreasonable and illegal.
what seems to escape lawmakers is an essential feature of life, Fairness. Of course no employer wants to take on someone at great expense in fees, airfares, commission to agents, liability for debts etc. to see him depart to a competitor two minutes after arriving. However sponsors should structure their employment offers to ensure that they can recoup the costs they have paid and reap the benefits expected from the employee during contract period. Once that is over there should be no bar to the employee moving to another company which may offer a better deal. That is fairness, except in a few cases where trade secrets may be involved, an employer should wish his employee well at the end of his contract period and put no bar on him moving elsewhere. Anything else smacks of bonded labour or slavery which were abolished almost two hundred years ago in the British Empire. It took some time for our American friends to catch up but they did. Why is it such a problem elsewhere?
whats the big deal here, except in the worst cases where an employer may claim he lost the Passport, u can't use ur passport without an exit permit which the employer may choose to withold on some pretext. Some advance, not really.
Hi everyone, I am looking for 2 answers:
1st= Where is the legal text abt this "New Law", becaus eI could not find anything on any Minister web site
2nd= What does this mean now :"A foreign worker dismissed from his job or quitting on his own can come back to Qatar for employment with another company only after two years from the date of his departure. He can, however, be hired by another company provided his existing employer gives him a release and the authorities approve it."
Does that mean that If my current company agrees to give me a NOC(Release as stated), and If I have not completed 1 year service with them I can ask to transfer VIsa...
AS usual nothing is clear in the said "LAW" and there is not an amount of time you have to stay with your sponsor.
For my part, I have been working under a working visa for 9 months, I got a new job, and my NOC, I guess I can assume that a Transfer visa will do???!!!!
THanks for your reply
PS: I am still shocked abt a sponsor holding the passeport of his employees, and I can t believe people had to wait 2009 to get this in writing.... But unfortunately I do not believe that a low salary worker will complain abt his sponsor keeping his passeport, even if there is a law.....
"The exit permit and sponsorship rules remain almost unchanged, but sponsors have been barred from keeping the passports or travel documents of their workers."
How will the authorities know that companies are still keeping their employers passports?
No Change... EXIT PERMIT is still required..damm
-----------------
HE WHO DARES WINS
As expected, the sposnsorship law would not change that much.
I think every country's economy and interests are more important than expatriates' concerns and difficult situations if any exist.
Any country in the world does the same, wants to regulate its affairs, and enforces laws.
Eventually, money talks, usually countries treat each other the same (by retaliation).
I believe that expatriates should only pray and sollicit the change but this will take time.
Yet deportation is the worst
nabeelnaveed.. it is ALWAYS possible "to go to court".. it is your right...go to court, hire the lawyer, open the case, pay a fortune...why not?
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
There is nothing mentioned in this law regarding NOC and also if the company doesnt give you NOC so is it possible to go to courts or not?
I hope they mean "two years from the date of his departure right after the working visa cancellation". These days when a lot of confusion goes around, a little extra clarification can save many. While my profession made me fortunate enough to go back on visa upon arrival for holidays, my last visit being until 27 Feb 09 (last departure, i say), I'm already counting my days to go back and work again in the country. That should be 15 months from now. I hope my frequent visits there wont confuse the authorities! ;)
That's good if you visit Doha for 30 Days and pay for 30 days Visa and if you want to stay for 3 Years just overstay. I think that is cheaper than ever! HAHAHAHAHA :))
And you are in Doha for 3 Years with a very special treatment Free Accommodation and having a very pleasant dinner with full of Chicken Curry (Floating Chicken in a Curry) eyewwwww.....
'this is new: Visitors here on a 30-day visa, who overstay, face prison terms which can extend up to three years or, alternatively, may be fined up to QR50,000.'
tis true.
____________________________
The problem is SAMAEL that most employees don't realise that it's illegal for their passport to be taken, most don't have to balls to stand up for themselves, and even if they did most companies would just turn round and say fine, no job here for you.
My first company here tried to retain my passport, and i told them "Absolutley, i have no problem if you would like to keep my passport, so long as you have a vualt and good security... Oh and you will need to get written permission from the British Embassay signed by the ambassador seeing as it is not my property, but that of Her Royal Highness Queen Lizie the Second"
Conversation ended, passport went home with me.
____________________________
qatarisun, its not my case. I just elaborate the change (i think so) in the law.
Xray, why do you have to overstay? you came to visit country, you visited it, go home.. no one country likes 'overstaying'.... i am pretty sure once you overstay in USA they will never issue a visa for you again...
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
this is new: Visitors here on a 30-day visa, who overstay, face prison terms which can extend up to three years or, alternatively, may be fined up to QR50,000.
yawn........... so whats new? is this old wine in a new bottle?
how can I register own company under existing sponsor?
I have to get release at first?
I have to wait until one year, and transfer to other sponsor?
YEAH! That is the good turn, sue companies who keeps their workers passport!
In the case of women, it will be only be illegal if they work for companies without a working permit. This is like a card or something (dunno exactly), that took months to secure due coz the mandoob doesn't know what the required documents are.
In the case of husbands, I wish someone can clear the matter.
_______________________________
Don't work harder, work smarter
I know many expats holding very good positions, yet they have no control whatsoever over their passport.
As for the exit permit, good luck with that! One has to be under the mercy of their employer and admin staff as well, who might be out of town while the employee was struck with emergency and wants to flight out!
''Expatriate women in independent employment here can now sponsor their husbands and children and detailed regulations in this regard will be issued through a ministerial decree soon''
The above legislation if implemented will be helpful for lot of families trying to lead a peaceful family life. It will help reduce the practice of visa trading as well.
unfortunately this is Qatar...best way is to packed off. we cant expect much on labor laws...:(
I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it. ~Charles Schulz
My sponsor has my passport !! They don't want to give it to me. If i fight I am packed off. I keep quite I am safe.
Who is monitoring all this here. This is a pure load of BS. Nothing has changed, i don't see anything good for us expats here. Modern Slavery still prevails here and going strong full swing. Grrr
What was the swear in that.
employment with another company only after two years! thats the rule whatelse we can say here but thats the thing that make monoploly and discourge to get the right person on right position.
still no answer on release issues when contract is over...some employers dont free workers to work in other companies...or one has to come back after 2 yrs...
I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it. ~Charles Schulz
ThnX..
--
rms..!!
It means you can bring children under the age of 2 into the country without a permit, and then apply for residence permit within 60 days of their arrival.
Can somebody explain this ?
Children born to expatriates outside Qatar can be brought here until they attain the age of two years and application for their residence permit should be submitted within 60 days of their arrival. Wives and children of foreign workers holding a valid residence permit and visitors staying here for up to 30 days do not require an exit permit to travel out of the country.
rms..!!
Well I'll be gone before I'm due to re-apply to be sponsored by my wife, but I agree it's good news. I know too many woman who have come here to work only to leave again when the government decides they're not allowed to bring their family here.
heh, tallg. good to see women will be able to sponsor husbands. ;)
Keeping employees passports is illegal. I've seen that said any number of times in the newspapers. Saying it one more time won't make any difference.
Hardly good news is it. Doesn't seem much change from what goes on already.
It's good to see they've finally committed to saying that expat women can sponsor their husbands and families. Up until now it's always been random whether you're told you can or not, and a painful experience trying to convince them to let you.
I thought this was illegal already;
but sponsors have been barred from keeping the passports or travel documents of their workers.
if not by Qatar law then by some sort of international human rights law. I bet you still get lots of sponsors keeping passports despite this though.
[Mod note: Swearing on public forum isnot allowed]
Now modern slavery has been cemented in solid concrete.