From October 28, a majority of workers will not need exit permit to go out of Qatar

Qatar made quite a splash when it decided to abolish the system of exit permits last month.

A few weeks back, news had come out that the new law will come into effect by the end of October. And now, a firm date has been set.

The new legislation on exit permits — Law No 13 of 2018 — will come into effect on October 28, said the joint committee formed to co-ordinate between Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), reported Gulf Times.

Notice about the commencement of enforcing Law No. 13 of 2018 regarding regulating the entry and exit of expatriates as of 28 October 2018 #adlsaqa pic.twitter.com/bV1BRpwwR4

— وزارة التنمية والعمل (@ADLSAQa) October 16, 2018

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also urged employers to start registering names of 5% of senior employees who will still require prior approval before leaving the country due to their nature of work, reported The Peninsula.

The names should be submitted to the ministry through their online platform, which was recently launched on the Ministry's website — www.adlsa.gov.qa.

On 28 October 2018, Law No. 13 of 2018 regarding the entry and exit of expatriates, will be enforced. Abolishing the exit permit comes as part of #Qatar’s commitment to ensure the protection of its labour workforce. https://t.co/JX9e8oR6tq

— مكتب الاتصال الحكومي (@GCOQatar) October 16, 2018

The new exit permit law states that an expatriate worker covered under the Labour Law No 14 for 2004 has the right to exit the country, temporarily or for good, at any time throughout the duration of his/her employment contract without an exit permit.

Both the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) had welcomed the new legislation with open arms.