Qatar to be lax about work visas for expatriates

The government has eased visa restrictions for companies and is allowing them to recruit workers from countries of their choice, says Qatar Chamber (QC).

In other words, nationality-wise quota system in issuing work visas may not be in force any more.

The move aims to remove hindrances facing private businesses in their smooth operation and their ability to play a greater role in the national economy.

The Chamber said the Recruitment Committee at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs which clears work visas for companies is now taking a lenient view of visa requests.

A welcome development is that the Committee has a representative of the Chamber on it now to ensure that the private sector's manpower needs are not ignored.

"Since then the Committee has been able to solve the woes of the companies related to work visas and the nationality of workers," said Rashid Al Athba, a member of QC's board.

He is the man who represents the private sector on the Recruitment Committee. He told Al Sharq that now the committee takes a lenient view of a company's requests for the number of workers for different jobs and their nationality.

"Our presence in the Committee has made it take the problems of the private sector seriously," Al Athba said.

"When the panel is convinced a firm needs that many workers and from so and so nationality, its visa requests are approved."

Al Athba said this is part of the government's plans to remove all hurdles in the way of the private sector and help it develop and play a much widened role in economic development. [The Peninsula]

Photos Taken by Anthony