Is it illegal for companies to hold passports of expatriates in Qatar ?
If yes how can it be reported as i see most of the companies here holding the passport of their employees ?
Isn't it against the labour law in Qatar ?
It is illegal for employers to withhold employee’s passports. As Marry Catherine said, it is the property of your government. I had a situation where the passport of one of my in-laws was withheld by the employer in the UAE. I did address the issue with the labor ministry. The lady said it was normal practice for employers to withhold the passport. I proposed to her that I contact the embassy and declared the passport illegally withheld to the police. She went silent and made a phone call. The employer showed up with the passport within 30 minutes. Everyone in government knows that the practice is illegal.
Buyers are no longer that heedlessly excited for buying belt in Dubai they have rather become rational and sane in pilfering probability state according to their empowerment plans Rec to Rec Dubai
Iwuala, I think that 1200QR is VERY difficult to live on. Qatar is an expensive place. I also think that visa and ticket costs should be paid by the company that is going to employ you. As long as the visa is issued by said company. Or did you buy the visa in Nigeria?
Pls pals, am a Nigerian and into Airconditionin both repair and instalation. Pls i just pased d Interview recently conductd by this company, Arab United Construction Copany (ARCON). But the issue now is,
1) is this company private or state owned.
2) they said their salary is 1,200QR. But ar goin to provide us a sheard acomodation, transportation, medical, insurance and transportation. Aside these, is the amount anytn near good living?
3) we ar payin for Our visa and flgt ticket. Is it normal? Pls, i nid help. Let me knw if to acept it or not
Exactly, it's property of "your" government, not of your employer.
When the HR needs to renew RP's, they must send emails to the department to have the employee's bring their passports & ID's for renewal for the one's that are going to be expiring, after that employee's can get their passports & ID's back. That is the only time they HR has them, few days to process.
AND, when you need a visa for whatever country you will request, then HR will prepare it for you. They alreayd have your information saved in their system. they dont need your passport.
You can report the company & their A... will be fined..
What if there is a fire a your company? that safe will stand maybe a few hours, not forever. Better be responsible for your own passport. Trust me. My hubby works in a huge company as a HR Admin. who processes these daily, so he knows the rules.
They don't hold it for safety purposes. It's illegal if that is the honest intent. If the person to whom the passport is issued requests the passport and it is freely given then maybe. But again, what happens if the person(s) with access to the safe are not available?
I repeat a passport is the property of the government that issued it to you. No one (no employer or other government) has the right to retain it legally. You may freely give it to them for safekeeping but you have every right to ask for its return on demand. If the company refuses to do so, report them to the Labour Dept and the MoI.
It is not "yours" it is the property of the government that issued it to you. No one (no employer or other government) has the right to retain it legally.
As for the exit permit argument. Great, if there is someone available to issue the exit permit whether it be a personal emergency or something more sinister.
Say for example there was some sort of natural disaster or other crisis and an exit permit could not be issued - how will you prove to your embassy or anyone else who you are and what your nationality is?
I'm glad you have confidence in your employer under those circumstances, I don't have the same in mine.
Well, our company keep our passports with them at HR in a fire proof safe. And I have no problem with that as I cannot leave the country without an exit permit from them.
The HR also does my RP every year. And company letter to request Visa for foreign countries.
very illegal now!!! Get it, and keep it. It is your's and you can not leave the country without an exit permit anyway for your sponsor, so the company does not need/ and can not hold your passport even if they say it is company policy, it is country policy that they can not hold it,you might need it for hotel bookings, car renting etc. do not hand it back to them, say you still need it as it is your passport.
The problem is, people do not know their rights here, and get scared from their employer. If in doubt go to Jarir bookstore, or google the labor dept website.
You can buy the labor law book here in Qatar and read it. If they insist on you giving it back to them, make up any reason you still need it, after a while they should forget about it, it is your passport!! don't give it back go report them to the dept. of labour, if they keep insisting, the labour dept will have heavy fines for each passport the company is holding!!!
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It is illegal for employers to withhold employee’s passports. As Marry Catherine said, it is the property of your government. I had a situation where the passport of one of my in-laws was withheld by the employer in the UAE. I did address the issue with the labor ministry. The lady said it was normal practice for employers to withhold the passport. I proposed to her that I contact the embassy and declared the passport illegally withheld to the police. She went silent and made a phone call. The employer showed up with the passport within 30 minutes. Everyone in government knows that the practice is illegal.
Companies holding passports of expatriates is the question topic!
Not about shopping for a new belt or if you can get a good salary here.
Buyers are no longer that heedlessly excited for buying belt in Dubai they have rather become rational and sane in pilfering probability state according to their empowerment plans Rec to Rec Dubai
Iwuala, I think that 1200QR is VERY difficult to live on. Qatar is an expensive place. I also think that visa and ticket costs should be paid by the company that is going to employ you. As long as the visa is issued by said company. Or did you buy the visa in Nigeria?
hmmmmm good discussion going on.. btw i just posted this for the sake of my wifey whose gradually becoming an addict to QL's forum :)
Pls pals, am a Nigerian and into Airconditionin both repair and instalation. Pls i just pased d Interview recently conductd by this company, Arab United Construction Copany (ARCON). But the issue now is,
1) is this company private or state owned.
2) they said their salary is 1,200QR. But ar goin to provide us a sheard acomodation, transportation, medical, insurance and transportation. Aside these, is the amount anytn near good living?
3) we ar payin for Our visa and flgt ticket. Is it normal? Pls, i nid help. Let me knw if to acept it or not
Exactly, it's property of "your" government, not of your employer.
When the HR needs to renew RP's, they must send emails to the department to have the employee's bring their passports & ID's for renewal for the one's that are going to be expiring, after that employee's can get their passports & ID's back. That is the only time they HR has them, few days to process.
AND, when you need a visa for whatever country you will request, then HR will prepare it for you. They alreayd have your information saved in their system. they dont need your passport.
You can report the company & their A... will be fined..
What if there is a fire a your company? that safe will stand maybe a few hours, not forever. Better be responsible for your own passport. Trust me. My hubby works in a huge company as a HR Admin. who processes these daily, so he knows the rules.
They don't hold it for safety purposes. It's illegal if that is the honest intent. If the person to whom the passport is issued requests the passport and it is freely given then maybe. But again, what happens if the person(s) with access to the safe are not available?
I repeat a passport is the property of the government that issued it to you. No one (no employer or other government) has the right to retain it legally. You may freely give it to them for safekeeping but you have every right to ask for its return on demand. If the company refuses to do so, report them to the Labour Dept and the MoI.
They hold it for safety purpose, and they keep in a fire proof safes in thier offices.
It is not "yours" it is the property of the government that issued it to you. No one (no employer or other government) has the right to retain it legally.
As for the exit permit argument. Great, if there is someone available to issue the exit permit whether it be a personal emergency or something more sinister.
Say for example there was some sort of natural disaster or other crisis and an exit permit could not be issued - how will you prove to your embassy or anyone else who you are and what your nationality is?
I'm glad you have confidence in your employer under those circumstances, I don't have the same in mine.
Well, our company keep our passports with them at HR in a fire proof safe. And I have no problem with that as I cannot leave the country without an exit permit from them.
The HR also does my RP every year. And company letter to request Visa for foreign countries.
hummm, seems I was right after all!!! ;p
very illegal now!!! Get it, and keep it. It is your's and you can not leave the country without an exit permit anyway for your sponsor, so the company does not need/ and can not hold your passport even if they say it is company policy, it is country policy that they can not hold it,you might need it for hotel bookings, car renting etc. do not hand it back to them, say you still need it as it is your passport.
The problem is, people do not know their rights here, and get scared from their employer. If in doubt go to Jarir bookstore, or google the labor dept website.
You can buy the labor law book here in Qatar and read it. If they insist on you giving it back to them, make up any reason you still need it, after a while they should forget about it, it is your passport!! don't give it back go report them to the dept. of labour, if they keep insisting, the labour dept will have heavy fines for each passport the company is holding!!!
Cheers
Get it and let me see it tomorrow.
Salam
It is illegal.