Qatar's Minister of Administrative Development: Amendments on Entry and Exit Law Confirm Qatar's Leadership in Workers Care and Protecting Their Rights

Doha, September 06 (QNA) - HE Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, said that the latest amendments, which included some provisions of the law regulating entry and exit of expatriates, complemented the legislations and reforms that guarantee the rights of workers and make Qatar a pioneer in the region in that field. In a joint press conference, HE Al Nuaimi and Director General of the General Directorate of Passports Brigadier General Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Ateeq, said that the new amendments to the law regulating the entry and exit of expatriates guarantee the entitlement of the expatriate worker who is subject to the provisions of the labor law for the final or temporary leave without the prior consent of the employer, except for a percentage not exceeding 5 percent specified by the employer. HE pointed out that the law allowed the employer to determine the proportion of not more than 5 percent of the total number of employees of the company who requires their departure prior approval, adding if the applicant is not allowed to leave the country for any reason, he may refer to the expatriate exit complaints committee which decides on the worker's complaint within three working days. HE noted the close cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs in the implementation of the law and the development of mechanisms and controls that ensure its application to the fullest. HE mentioned that the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs will conduct awareness campaigns for companies, institutions and employers in coordination with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry on procedures and controls to determine the proportion of 5 percent of employees requiring their prior approval. HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs referred to all the legislations issued by the State of Qatar to guarantee the rights and welfare of migrant workers and to provide a safe and stimulating work environment for work and production. HE explained that the package of legislation includes the wage protection system which included the salaries of workers through banks, the mechanisms used to guarantee the financial rights of the worker, the formation of the Committee on the settlement of labor disputes, and the Committee of complaints of entry and exit of expatriates, along with the fund to support and secure workers, and other relevant mechanisms and legislation. HE Al Nuaimi added that with this advanced legislative system, the State of Qatar has become an attractive labor force environment, which positively reflects the quality of work and increase production. HE pointed out that the recent amendments to expatriates entry and exit law and residence received international praise by international organizations concerned with labor and trade union institutions and human rights organizations in the world. HE pointed out that this system of legislation related to foreign workers preserves the rights of the parties "migrant worker and employer", and guaranteed both to resort to the competent committees specified by the law in case of breach of labor contract from any party. For his part, the Director General of the General Directorate of Passports Brigadier General Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Ateeq referred to the role of the Ministry of Interior in implementing the law and the efforts exerted by the Ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs in this context, adding that the two ministries formed task forces to develop a mechanism to facilitate procedures and simplify them to implement the law with its new amendments. Al Ateeq added that in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, the two ministries will organize awareness campaigns to clarify this law and introduce the rights and duties of the worker and the employer in light of the new amendments. Concerning the 5 percent of the workers of the companies whose departure requires prior approval he explained that this percentage will be submitted by the companies to the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, and after approval, they will be part of the Ministry of Interior system for entry, exit and residency. (QNA)