confiscation of passport

gaurav.km77
By gaurav.km77

Hi, Can an employer confiscate the passport? Or in soft words keep the passport? Is that allowed under their labor law?

regards
gaurav

By Anonymous• 22 Sep 2013 13:58

I remember when I was in Germany and I had two tourist stamps from a by-gone era, stamped into my passport. One from Checkpoint Charlie and the other from the Brandenburg Gate. When leaving Germany the security at the airport pulled me aside and questioned me for 30 minutes over them! I'm sure they thought I was some kind of spy. I seriously thought I was going to miss the plane. No matter how many times I explained they just didn't seem to understand that they were just a tacky tourist trinket purchased for 1 Euro!

By Acadian• 22 Sep 2013 13:46
Rating: 5/5
Acadian

Actually the passport issued to you belongs to the government of your country. By international law it is illegal for an employer to withhold a passport from an employee. If your employer refuses to give back your passport, inform your embassy to assist you getting it back. If your embassy is on the ball you should get it back quickly

By zafirah• 22 Sep 2013 10:53
zafirah

it is your responsibility to keep it safe and secure.

if you can not do it - then you can ask your employer to keep it for you.

but i prefer to keep my passport with me. if "anything" goes wrong - you have your travel document with you.

By Good old joe• 22 Sep 2013 09:44
Rating: 2/5
Good old joe

.. the excuse used out here is that the employers keep it so it wont get lost or stolen when it is with you. Actually as per international law keeping somebody else's passport is a serious offence especially during this troubled times as they can get into the wrong hands

By Prize• 22 Sep 2013 08:35
Prize

Nothing is wrong in it.

Workers will not be able to keep it safe from theft or damage in their small living spaces.

By Red Bull• 22 Sep 2013 08:00
Rating: 5/5
Red Bull

Actually it does matter Kareena... they are NOT allowed to hold your passport.. so you should demand it to be given to you... and if they say it is for security reasons - then tell them you are a grown up man and you can take care of your passport security by yourself.

The only time you should give them passport is just for a week to make any immigration arrangements... SO GO GET YOUR PASSPORT.. and dont listen to anyone who tells you it is a common practice.. it is NOT.

By Kareena74• 22 Sep 2013 07:44
Rating: 4/5
Kareena74

Whether they keep the passport or not, you still cannot leave the country without an exit permit.. So what does it matter anyway? Let them keep it if they want to because even if it is with you, it is nothing but a useless piece of paper because you definitely cannot use it as a travel document without the permission or exit permit to travel.

By Anonymous• 22 Sep 2013 07:43

nowshard. Stop spamming every post. Your face is giving me a head ache. Do you think this poor guy that has had his passport taken from him is going to give you a job as a draughtsman?

By Anonymous• 22 Sep 2013 07:37
Rating: 3/5

No. It is illegal. They can copy it but can't keep it. It happens all too often though.

By Molten Metal• 22 Sep 2013 07:17
Rating: 2/5
Molten Metal

is accepted by most staff where their companies keep this precious document in fire proof safe lockers under 24 hrs security ....

And taken out while going on vacations ....

By britexpat• 22 Sep 2013 07:11
britexpat

How many times has this question been asked ?

NO! It is illegal under the Qatari labour law....

By chameleon• 22 Sep 2013 07:10
chameleon

It is illegal but many employers do it.

By Omais2657• 22 Sep 2013 06:41
Omais2657

True. they cant keep it.

By gene_lv• 22 Sep 2013 05:51
Rating: 5/5
gene_lv

No. If they need it, they can borrow from you. It it is illegal in Qatar for the employer to keep the passports of their employees.

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