QATAR MUST UPDATE THE LAW!!!
Qatar has grown and developed so quickly and massively in the last few years. Its economy, government and people are forces to be reckoned with, locally and in the international arena. There is innovation, imagination and enthusiasm to be found in all aspects of Qatari society as well as in the expat community that calls Qatar its home. There is also much respect for the leaders of this tiny up-and-coming business center. They have demonstrated vision for the development of the country and a concern for their countrymen by educating them and putting them to work to continue the building of their own country. Qatar has been described as a country which "champion(s) the cause of freedom". (The Peninsula, Oct 11, 2010). Meanwhile, Qatar has also invited hundreds of thousands of workers—skilled and unskilled—to lend a hand in the building of Qatar. While some of these workers succeed in tucking away tidy nest eggs and returning to their own countries better off, there are others who struggle to realize their earnings or even a decent standard of living while they are here. Much of a worker's fate depends on the benevolence, or lack thereof, of his sponsor—his salary, living conditions and dismissal—so much so that the sponsorship system has been compared to modern-day slavery.
Some countries have realized that the sponsorship system for workers is outdated, antiquated and unfair to workers. Perhaps those same countries have already realized benefits of having more satisfied foreign workers. Bahrain has done away with the sponsorship structure and Kuwait is scheduled to retire it in February 2011. In keeping with its vision and progressive thinking, Qatar needs to do away with the sponsorship scheme that it has been using up to now. Rather than feeling fearful of allowing workers and employers to move freely between companies without the 2 year penalty, both parties can be relieved of the misery of feeling stuck with an unhappy partner. Employees who aspire to better themselves or look for new challenges can find new opportunities and can take advantage of them, contributing their skills and expertise in a competitive atmosphere, rather than feeling stifled and abused by an archaic system. An important segment of the present working population, namely educated, skilled professionals, will inevitably start feeling resentment towards sponsors who refuse to release them to pursue other opportunities. While seemingly in control of people's fates, Qatar will eventually start losing real talent to other countries, especially to those countries that have eased or will ease the unfair restrictions that make up the sponsorship regulations.
Qatar will end up losing talented, knowledgeable professionals because of a stubborn refusal to give up that relatively small amount of control—a control that is not a fundamental right for employers or sponsors to begin with. From an Islamic perspective, it is wrong for one person to have such control over another; man is free and should not be a slave to another. Islam has clear guidelines and parameters; one need only consult a scholar for ahadith and Qur'anic verses that would present support for an end to the practice of sponsorship in its current form.
With a competitive system, employers would be forced into better treatment of their workers in order to retain their valued staff. The result will be a more contented workforce and better products, both of which are beneficial for the employer. The resistance to a change in the present legislation could only be construed as a worrisome fear that employers would actually have to provide things for their employees that, heretofore, they have been able to overlook, i.e., proper living situations, salaries paid on time and in full, and the choice by an employee to stay or leave for a different position. No one wins when an undervalued employee is retained against his will.
If Qatar is the new “land of opportunity” for expats, it is also still the land of perceived slave owners who are unwilling to give up their grasp on the chains that bind their employees and keep them subservient. That grasp enables sponsors to keep their workers tied to them—but only until the employees have outlived their usefulness. There is no dignity to be found in an environment such as this. Slavery goes against human dignity and is also against the spirit of Islam.
Qatar needs to fulfill its role as a leader in the region by setting a new standard—a standard of human rights that was established by Islam. Qatar has nothing to lose and everything to gain by eradicating this most detestable example of all human indignities, the modern day slavery that we call the sponsorship law.
can they scratch the requirement of ceid clearance as well? agh!!
s_isale,
i know, finally they will be liberated.
i hope the same happens to all those in power without being elected by their people.
What was the other common similarity of the rulers in Tunisia and Egypt - they were stooges of the so called developed countries.
Fair enough :)
IchWill,
I absolutely agree with you and I never said anything in the contrary.
Of course I would not want any foreigner in MY country telling me how to do things but also I would not want any dictatorial family ruling my country, self-servicing themselves from the national resources and removing me and my fellow citizens from the possibility of having a say in the running and future of my country.
It’s just a view, not a policy that I am enforcing in anyone, but apparently many others thing the same way, including in Tunisia and Egypt!
Nic;
I think "who decides" is their business.
I would not want any foreigner in MY country telling me how I should do things, regardless of whether the opinion I am hearing is constructive or otherwise.
It is called sovereignty.
(sorry, looks like I posted twice by mistake)
...
Nic;
I think "who decides" is their business.
I would not want any foreigner in MY country telling me how I should do things, regardless of whether the opinion I am hearing is constructive or otherwise.
It is called sovereignty.
...
Acadian,
lol… you sound like some Qataris! so no opinions are accepted if they are not positive?!
ps. and who is deciding what for Qatar? The people of Qatar? I don’t think so. But hey, who are we to say whatever here, right?
;)
All is well said and done. What everyone here needs to keep in mind it is their country and it is their prerogative to run things as they wish. Qatar is still providing jobs to many people so they can support their families back home. Expats are not forced to come here and do not have to stay. If you don’t like it, Leave and find a better place that suits you
IchWill,
When you say "they", do you refer to the family in power or to the rest of the common people of Qatar?
I don’t think they are given any choice or allowed to voice their wishes.
Nobody knows. It is entirely up to them at the end of the day. It is their country.
Thanks IchWill!
I wonder what the Qataris think about this foreseen future.
Will they in that future, be as visible as North American Natives, are today?
If Sponsorship law is scrapped in Qatar infact everybody will get advantage. If so there will be an open employment market. Jobseekers will easily find the right employers and employers can hire the talents they need instantly from the local market without going for lengthy and expensive overseas recruitment process. It will be a great advantage for large to Small business owners or contractors as they can hire people as on need basis even possible to get workers on daily or hourly basis to slim cut on expense. In other hand Employees too can work with multiple employers if they can efford. In result the employment market will be very very competetive which is most necessary for a growing Qatar. It will be a win win situation for all parties. This should be the senerio of a modern Qatari job market. But from this only loosers I think should be some "Blood Sucking" sponsors who makes money on their labours blood not paying salaries for even more then six months. And when the helpless labours cry, in some cases those sponsors used to makes false allegation to put them in jail and deport without paying dues. Now its wisdom of decision makers what they want - a modern prosperous free Qatar or stoneaged slavery system.
Nic;
With time, the need to open up for incoming immigration will become an apparent one.
However, while change is absolutely necessary for long term success, this realization usually takes decades to establish. Some countries will not be able to survive, let alone prosper, without a positive net intake of immgrants. Qatar is one of these countries.
I have been here for 8 years, and I can say that since I arrived here I am seeing consistently more and more people in charge who believe the system has to change.
Today, I have no doubt that change will take place. But it will probably take a few more years (15-20 years) to fully materialize.
IchWill,
What I don’t understand is that the Qatari's are already a small minority in their own country and they are still developing it further (new cities such as Lusail, Doha land, new infrastructures such as the Metro, High Speed Rail, etc...) to become an even smaller minority.
Do they want to become an invisible one?
While I don't particularly like the sponsorship system in place, I do understand why it is in place. Anyone here familiar with the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964? Here is a link in case you wanted to read about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanzibar_Revolution
Being a minority in their own country, the Qataris have very well founded & realistic security concerns. The sponsorship system is one additional layer of security as far as they are concerned.
Like I said before, I don't particularly like it but I understand why it is in place.
It wont happen in Qatar. Forget it and move on.If you cant change job in Qatar , cross the border :)
Mandilulur,
SKART didn’t say that.
He just copied-pasted a text published in his peninsula back in October. He probably forgot to inform all that this wasn't his text.
As for your comment, you are right. Employers here are generally not equipped (Aka educated and experienced) to identify or recognize potential! There is also a general culture of non-trust and insecurity from their side.
SKART, you say,"With a competitive system, employers would be forced into better treatment of their workers in order to retain their valued staff." I would agree but I have yet to see even the highest paid employees seen as "valued staff." There is a pervasive sense that employees here are transient and replaceable. That mentality kinda shoots your impassioned plea out of the sky.
Mandi
yeah sure it is "copy paste"...
but it doesnt change the reality of how it senses!
yeah sure it is "copy paste"...
but it doesnt change the reality of how it senses!
Is this really SKART's article?
He copied-pasted from a post published in the peninsula back in Oct 2010. Follow the link I posted in my comment above.
guilt... yes yes beyond 2150 it will happen. I guarantee you.
yes guilt...i have a deep deep deep pain! :/
Why do you say that Guilt?
yes guilt...i have a deep deep deep pain! :/
Guys, You should go back and read the questions of SKART to understand why he is posting such a long thread on this subject.
Sorry to say SKART, nothing of such kind is going to happen in the near future. May be beyond 2015 but I am not sure.
You're right..extremely recomended...
lol
;)
loll
lol
Nic sure from the Sponsors. You even want him to tell you this. lol
"to avoid criminal acts"...lol
from who? from the "sponsored" or the from the "sponsors"?
Will always be an emotive subject and a nightmare to sort out.
I think they are right in some ways to have it. They have to protect their interests; the money spent on flying people over, the housing provided plus education etc. That must cost an awful lot of money.
To ensure this is not ‘abused’ perhaps the NOC should be in place for a year or two and then the person is ‘free’ to move on.
There is of course the valid argument that Qatar is a very rich country and the money spent on bringing people in could easily be absorbed by the revenue generated by the people that do the work.
If they did not have the NOC; I suspect there would be something else brought in and would that be any better?
this was published here last October 2010:
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/see-all-topics/Summer/viewpost/42_Sponsorship_not_slavery.html
Dont know where you got this from but I think it adequately covers the issues and the need for change. Despite the Prime Minister assurances, words are cheap and I personnally will be assessing him as a professional politician by his ability to recognise the need for change and ACT UPON IT. To many other regional leaders may have recognised the need but havent acted until their hand has been forced - there is no need for that here.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b1bb784c-f5e7-11df-99d6-00144feab49a,s01=1.html#axzz1CaXHIeNo
in your dreams.
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, the prime minister said this month that: “The government is now seriously looking into the sponsorship system, and in the light of the latest developments, the issue requires some legal and other measures.”