Aug 14, 2016- Qatar is expected to bring new Kafala sponsorship laws into effect from December in a move that is likely to make it easier for millions of migrants–including around half-a-million Nepalis–to switch jobs and leave the country. Qatar became the second largest recipient of Nepali workers in the fiscal year 2015-16.
Gulf-based new portals reported that the new laws, which were approved in October last year, will come into force from December 13. No official announcement has been made so far, according to ArabianBusiness.com, a business news portal that focuses on the Middle East. The reforms were announced after rights organisations including Human Rights Watch criticised the Kafala system saying that it allowed abuse and exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous sponsors.
The revised law allows migrants working on fixed-term contracts to change jobs once their contract expires without the permission of employers. The migrant workers, however, will still require the permission of the government to change jobs, according to local media.
The new law also envisages prompt legal redress for abused migrants, ensures residence facilities for workers’ families and stringent punishment to employers acting against the laws.
