Company wants passport to be submitted

andthisishowitgoes
By andthisishowitgoes

I am on husband sponsorship and we have submitted a NO OBJECTION LETTER to the company so that i can work. Now they want me to submit my PASSPORT so that they are sure that i keep working with them , IS THIS IN ANY WAY LEGAL. Please suggest what to do in this situation.

By andthisishowitgoes• 14 Apr 2009 12:13
andthisishowitgoes

I have to thank each one of you for helping in this situation. I will not definitely NOT submit my passport to them. I do not want to become their slave. And Hesa thank you for your post, I have the gulf times article stating the changes made to the Labor Law. I will collect all data and show it to them and if they fire me, I know how to deal with it.

Thanks again to all for finding the time and helping me in his!!!!!!!!

By jonboy• 14 Apr 2009 11:51
Rating: 4/5
jonboy

I agree with all the above posts. As per the new edition of the Labour law, as per advertised in the gulf times also, companies who retain their employees passports for reasons beyond that which enable the company to process the RP will be subject to large fines.

By hesa24804• 14 Apr 2009 11:49
Rating: 5/5
hesa24804

You can search on QL as there are numerous posts regarding the Labour Laws, or on the Gulf Times newspaper site. There is an article from 28th February entitled "Little change in Qatar’s sponsorship law"

This article states -

"According to the new law, the freedom of movement of non-Qataris would still be restricted through the mandatory exit permits.

However, the law makes it illegal for sponsors and employers to retain employees’ passports and travel documents once their residence permits have been issued."

Please whatever you do, do NOT give the company your passport, else you will be here for the next 20 years, with no hope of going home, not even for a holiday!

Show your employers the new law, and if they still ask for your passport, I would go to the police.

By tinova• 14 Apr 2009 11:46
Rating: 5/5
tinova

Never surrender your passport to the company unless u transfer your visa into their sponsorship. It's quite illegal since passport is purely personal property only.

By hesa24804• 14 Apr 2009 11:41
Rating: 5/5
hesa24804

It is illegal...

What I would do is to download the new Qatar Labour Law amendments (if you type it into the search box it will appear), and go to your employer and show them. If they continue to ask for it, say you need to check with the police or something as you are unsure... I'm sure they'll retract the request!

By SolidSnake9• 14 Apr 2009 11:31
Rating: 5/5
SolidSnake9

According to the new sponsorship law, employers are not allowed to hold their employees passports...

By andthisishowitgoes• 14 Apr 2009 11:25
Rating: 4/5
andthisishowitgoes

and in the MEMO they have mentioned " IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING" submit passport

By andthisishowitgoes• 14 Apr 2009 11:23
andthisishowitgoes

thank you guyz... as per my company, they want to be sure that i dont quit working for them and the passport is an assurance , i mean keeping the passport works as assurance for them, is that also illegal? And I have already submitted a No Objection letter from my husband for me working.

Asking for my passport for assurance is illegal by all means right and I can dey gicing the same?

By mabelj• 14 Apr 2009 11:19
Rating: 5/5
mabelj

According to the new Qatar labour law the employer dont have the right to keep the passport anymore, if they will use for the processing of your RP ask them to give it back after.coz even though you have your passport you still cannot go out of the country if they will not issue the exit permit.

By yfon• 14 Apr 2009 11:16
yfon

ya,ask them the reason why they need your passport maybe they'll need for some paper processsing only and return after.if not ignore them.

By abraham1723• 14 Apr 2009 11:07
abraham1723

According to Qatar Law holding of any one passport by any means is illegal.

And please ask them the reason why they want your passport.

By marycatherine• 14 Apr 2009 11:01
Rating: 5/5
marycatherine

It is illegal to take and hold an employee's passport other than to get the RP inserted - it has to be returned to you. A passport belongs to the country that issues it - the employer under Qatari law is not allowed to hold it in order to hold you.

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