The United Nation’s International Labor Organization of Friday announced that Qatar is set to abolish its controversial exit visa system for all foreign workers by the end of the year.
Qatar has initiated a series of labor reforms since its selection as the 2022 World Cup host, with the event set in motion a huge construction programme taking into employment foreign workers.
“Last year, the exit visa was eliminated for the majority of workers, this year, that will be extended to all remaining categories of workers,” ILO’s Houtan Homayounpour, head of the labor agency’s project office in Doha, told AFP.
Qatar in September 2018 approved legislation to scrap the “kafala”, or sponsorship, a system which required that foreign workers obtain permission from their employers to leave the country. The system practiced by Gulf Cooperation Council nations has been stated as the main reason for the abuse of the rights of low-income migrant workers.
In October, it went into force for all but five percent of a company’s workforce – reportedly those in the most senior positions.
Homayounpour said, “this year is a big year” for migrant workers and the exit visa system “will officially be eliminated” by the end of 2019.
In February, Qatar said it was committed to labor reform following an Amnesty International report that the 2022 World Cup host was failing to stop widespread labor abuse.
Doha said it was on course to deliver “lasting” change after the human rights group accused the energy-rich state of “running out of time” to implement reforms before the World Cup.
As part of its pledge to reform the labor section, Qatar has as well introduced a monthly minimum wage of 750 riyals (USD 206) and agreed to work closely with the International Labor Organization, which currently has an office in the capital.
