Sponsorship - Is it slavery?

Well, I believe that if your not happy and not motivated you are gonna waste time at the company, wont work effeciently companies go down and so does the personality of the person.

Also companies try to impose themselves over the personal life of ppl, thats really unfair.

Any suggestions what we guys can do to it? I'm sure we can't do much. but thats middle-east for you. 1 thing surely What ppl can do is before taking up a job is discuss it on forums like this, where ppl give you an idea of whats it like. then think according to you and be aware of the problems you guys can fall in to, we all her are different - many ppl will be ready to work for 4000 and many won't take nothin less than 8000 for their housing allowance only. So do evaluate your self and discuss it with some fine ppl here. I'm sure every one here will give you the right opinion.

Gypsy- Appreciate ur comments.

waiting for Aisha now- as she's a Qatari girl, I'm sure she's kind hearted to go with everyone. but any ideas to help Aisha????

since the sponsor is responsible for bringing us here they shoudl reserve the right to keep us 2 same company for maybe 1 year. after 1 year we should be eligible to choose better job oppurtunities. i belive discusiions are on to implement somethng like this and hope it actually happens.

I know of a story from last year where some girls from the Regency Group could only go out to a bar after 11 if they went with ther greasy manager. I won't mention where the manager was from.

So much debate about this topic,

I lived in Saudi Arabia for almost 5 years. and yes both qatar and saudi arabia are applying the same sponsorship rules.

In terms of who is taking full advantage of the rule, it is difinately saudi as sponsors look at it as an excellent way of punishing humanity :) well, i personally don't blame them for that as it goes along with the directions and the vision of the country especially that they have a high rate of unemploument among locals

In qatar on the other hand, the unemployment does not exist, and even if it does, it is easy to resolve since we talk about a couple of hundred of people. But if we look at it from a different dimension, Qatar wishes to become a leader among the gulf countries in terms of education, social services and media and is trying to attract foreign investments, and since this vision is driving everything else in the country, the rules and regulations of the sponsorship should go along and align with the whole objective. Hence, i guess the government of qatar has to consider improving the business enviroment by allowing more freedom for employees to select the place to work based on how friendly, competitive and professional that place is. This will drive the companies to invest it their facilities, systems, policies as to attract the best talents in.

On the other hand, i truly beleive there should be some sort of rules to govern this initiative, because, honestly, most companies are not ready yet, and they still have a long way to go.

To answer the initial question, it is some sort of slavery, Yes it is, but if they change it, employers need to start working on emproving themselves immidiately.

companies imposing curfews, no overtime payment, once or lucky they are..twice a month day off :(

Xena, I know people in sponsorship situations in Korea and Japan who got into similar problems. One girl I was working with was dating a Korean guy and the mothers of some of the children saw and took offence. Our boss told her if she didn't break up with him he would fire her and she would have to leave the country.

I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart

I've been calling the employment situation in Doha neo-slavery since I got here. However, it's similar to other visa situations I have been in. You can never exit a visa without a termination of the previous contract, and employers do tend to lord that over you.

The big difference here is the exit visa. In other countries if you run out on your contract you can leave but you can't get back in. Here you can't leave. I think that's what makes this slavery. Preventing a person from leaving a place that isn't there home is in human.

I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart

Of course it is slavery and is absolutely disgusting for any human to be treated in this manner.

Unfortunately there are no unions and lack of human rights in the Gulf.

drake, are you serious about the curfews? That is appalling. Regency Group you say...hmmm...have any other names of companies?

I know about a company, where the boss thinks its his right to know who is having a party in their apartment, and his right to dictate who should socialise with who.

He also thinks it's a privilage for staff members in his establishment to have a liquor licence, and he will decide if they get one.

X

What about companies(eg. Regency Group) in this country selectively imposing curfews on their employees in their off time? I think this is a form of slavery too. What right do they have to try to control their employees social life?

They expect employees to work, go to a crappy shared accommodation, repeat.

She is at the Rayyan traffic police remember her car was banged b4 yesterday :D

Man She's been commenting all over the forums. when it comes to topic where sponsorship - she's away..

C'mon - I want in to check your particular views abt this.

Thanx! Guys appreciate that all of you agree with me.

Sputnik - you are gonna get me fired. Lol -- jk! You don’t want me to mention my company name on the forum. Don’t worry my company is a very respectful, they wont hold me back.

Well Please guys don’t get me wrong here - the Qatari nationals don’t have an issue to change jobs, niether do they have any problems. Also when it comes to salary, they can surely negotiate the offer, unlike us, so the govt wont understand the issue. Also some locals actually sell sponsorships which they get from govt to expats or companies for like 10k - 15k. I mean that is like selling people. UHHHH!!! Another adverse effect of this is If you don’t go well with your boss, trust me he can make your life miserable here. I've seen this before and also continuosly hearing abt such cases.

You yourself cannot increase your worth here. I mean how frustated people can be here.

Well said Walterdane - I hope that Qatar awakes soon.

I meant walterdanes.

It is true.

Even if I tried.

It is good that you gave guidence because not everyone knows.

I still have people at work who e-mail in capitals.

"But your English is still far better than my Phillipino will ever be."

Hmmm, something wrong with my english grammar? Just asking...

I know it was not his intention...but others may think so.

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What you are is what you have been, and what you will be is what you do now. - Buddha

It is true that it can be taken a shouting.

But I feel that was not the intention.

But your English is still far better than my Phillipino will ever be.

Please don't write your post in CAPITAL LETTERS. As if you're shouting out your views. (my opinion lang pare.)

I'll refrain from posting my comments as of this time. I need to weigh things out myself since I'm also under company sponsorship since I came here to Doha...

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What you are is what you have been, and what you will be is what you do now. - Buddha

I will learn about this so I understand it properly.

Please keep me posted on how you get on.

JBH..

WHAT CAN I SAY.IS IT FOR ME.REALLY.I AM A SLAVE AND PRISONER OF THIS COUNTRY.WE DONT HAVE OPTION AND CHOICES FOR THE EMPLOYMENT.WILL YOU AGREE THAT WE ARE JAILED AND PRISONER?DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET OUT FROM THIS COUNTRY WITH OUT YOUR JAIL WARDEN RELEASE?(THE SPONSOR).SO, ITS MY POINT OF VIEW THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD REALIZE.

How is it for you?

Please tell.

Hi imz,

I thank you.for choosing this topic.Definitely QATAR IS PRACTICING SPONSORSHIP AND IT IS VERY NOT FAR FROM SLAVERY....WE CAN CALL THIS AS MODERN WAY....BUT THE BOTTOMLINE IS THESAME AS ANCIENT SLAVERY.WE WILL GET A PARTY A CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOM.IF THIS QATAR WAKE UP AND REALIZE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE PEOPLE.ESP US.WORKING HERE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRY.it is my very point of view..

I choose my words carefully here.

I listened to a radio phone in once where the presenter [for the purposes of discussion and debate] called for regulated slavery.

He argued it would give many desparate people the chance to live in a better place.

I repeat, he said it would be regulated.

I hope I haven't started a row here.

BTW, this is for discussion and is not my view point.

Here goes.

Hi IMZ, I can related agree with you in this one. Only in my opinion, they should have agreement which both party have fair/equal power to terminate the agreement within some period of times prior notice if one of them not happy with the other. And thats called fair.

It is slavery there is absolutely no room for freedom and ones choice.. Hi Imz where do u wrk in qatar?