Costa Coffee and Employee passports

and the pissing contest goes on...

Lol. "laws" and "implemented" in the same sentence.

Well, they are not implemented here! And that's why life is beautiful - for some.

if you live in denial. Do you even know how laws are implemented?

Sorry, flor, I can't help you anymore if you don't know the difference between a state law and QL guidelines.

That's why we have the Mods! Also the reason why, we have police, labor department and court justice ;)

what more of the "laws" you are talking?

And, all (!) arguments supporting "circumventing" a law are dust in the wind. Laws are NOT made to be circumvented. It's better to have NO laws then, instead. Otherwise one makes himself ridiculous.

It doesn't matter what I am, and it doesn't matter what you think about Obama, but what matters is that your understanding of the term "Law" has nothing to do with what it really means. Where do you come from? Are the laws also "circumvented" there? Then this seems to be an appreciated form of sports and I can understand that you feel fine among these law-circumventers here.

circumventing to a certain degree will be more proper.

BTW, LP, are you really an American member of the Romanian group? Wow! Now I am not surprised that Obama is pro-gay marriage!

"The need for an expatriate workforce will continue and the consequent risks to the safety and security of the nation will rise," says Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim al-Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Statistics Authority.

So, since we are a RISK (but needed), the best way to control us is to take our passports and tie us to the sponsor through the NOC requirement. Although there is a law forbidding the sponsor to keep the passport of the sponsored, it is more fun to violate the law. In the end, it's ONLY a law!

of this thread and when I agreed with him, I was questioned.

Now let me check, I will agree with your statement, I'll wait if some intelligent people here will react again!

Even if you have the passports - you still need a visa to get out ..

No, Anne, it's not new. Only the law that says it's illegal is new.

Mandi

Most of the company is still holding the passport of their employee. This is not new.

LP: I suppose I got it right on target.

They need to treat these folks a little bit different.

What did i miss.. :(

I say something here .. and then i get "Lost" in my own beautiful world :(

I need to be more active !!

Yes, but remember , you had signed a non disclosure agreement :O)

LoL LP-Yeah...... I think it will be easier to change the existing law, by letting the employers to hold their employees passport than spending money in providing a good accommodation to their laborers! ;)

That's nonsense, brit. Even I kept my passport when I was in the air force although I had knowledge about some rocket launching bunkers.

Costa's decaffeinated double mocca with choco sprinkles and extra cream contains secret ingredients which competitors would dearly love to know. The withholding of the passports is to ensure that employees do not divulge this information.

It sounds as if you wanted to say that many workers don't live in safe conditions. Then the warping of the existing law is not the solution. The changing of the existing conditions would be the proper solution.

I would not want to hold my employee's passport. If there are issues with the space and safety conditions, then I might want to buy this person a small safe and give him the key.

His passport = his responsibility

I can live with an honest enemy, Rizks. No problem.

LP i would have loved you only if you would have not told tat policemen 'Shorty'.....:(

OMG, fubar, don't say such things. Somebody will be jealous!

That's why we love you Lincoln.

That's true, nomerci.

LP, you have a very special way of showing that.

LP I just wish somebody could understand your statements before they continue blabbering.

I am amused and entertained, nomerci.

Nothing. It's only you who thinks I am complaining.

Then what you constantly complaining about?????????????????????

And besides, Rizks, it's not only the sun, the sand, and the sea, that keep me here, it's also the lawlessness. It allows me pretty much to do what I want.

That's a nice suggestion, Rizks.

then wat should they call "in-laws"....:)

No, I think I'm stupid, Rizks. I thought a law is a law. I didn't know it's up to the people to choose which laws they want to follow and which not. My bad. At least they could stop calling these laws "laws".

i think its ur age LP...:(

I have absolutely nothing against this country. And I know some absolutely lovely locals. But the way the state is run is not understandable for me. I guess, I am stupid.

"LP, omg, yes, we know your opinion of Qatar by now. Why are you still here again?"....oh he is here for the free treatment of his one eye....:(

"It's a joke this State of Qatar." But they pay well for you to have nice life afterwards. right.

It is not Illegal to keep Employee's passport in Employer's custoidy with the consent of the Employee - Mr. indistress

LP, omg, yes, we know your opinion of Qatar by now. Why are you still here again? Ah yes, the sun and the sand....:P

Exactly. Laws in this country are made for .... what? They can be broken all the time - without consequences. It's a joke this State of Qatar.

Ah! This passport custody and employers!! Why this kolaveri di

Your passport is more important than you think.... if you have to resort to that.... hmmm... then fine!

It doesnt say it is illegal to keep your passport in your underpants though ;) ... and if they feel that that is where the safest place could be, then go ahead., If you always have to bring it with you that would be much better.

whether we agree or not on where to keepsafe our passports....Still, it is ILLEGAL for employers to keep their employees' passports! ;))

Darling...they have no money...as often they don't get paid...:(

Ahem, i have my passport with me....:)

I see a business opportunity - they can pay ME to look after THEIR passports...mutually beneficial ;-)

Well, then to be able have a proper opinion, maybe we should find out.

THEN we can go ahead and say this or that needs to be done.

i dont know ! :(

True Rizkz...and how many of the workers will be able to do that?

To protect ones passport is the sole responsibility of the passport owner not the sponsor !

that indicates the thread is hijacked and no more serious..

the lungi, the bald head, th Cuban shotputter and the Pink Kia :)

No idea, never been. I am loyal to rizkz chai stall.

now back to the title, Costa Coffee has a nice ambience though ! :)

Oh, sorry my friend...I thought that was common knowledge??? I mean, we all know how fashoin conscious you are...so of course you wouldn't want the underpants lines showing through your lungi!!!

Coz i feel comfortable tat way- tatz why ! :(

Why Rizks?

Damn you normerci, i thought no one would know tat i am not wearing underpants under my lungi....:(

i think the 'Passport' itself is a big Problem.....:(

Rizkz...next time you open your Chai stall, please do make a big sign...in any languages needed ,that declares that passports are now to be kept in one's underpants...and Rizkz, yes, you WILL have to wear underpants under your lungi from now on. sorry for the inconvenience! :(

big problem for employee and employer. If employer lost the employees passport, burden is on the employer more.

Again, if they complain, fine. If they don't complain, better for both.

Rofl nomerci !

damsel, so the workers should keep their passports in their underspants?

Ok.........

Lucky Luciano- I guess the same way how you keep your balls safe...

Look, here is the thing. It's all good and well to campaign for the worker's rights. BUT, YOU are not a worker, YOU only see and know from what you hear about the situation on the ground. Sometimes one has to maybe ask THEM what THEY want. Also, do not forget, some workers come from places we have no idea about...meaning their mindset and understanding is different....there is a possibility that, due to the change of surroundings and circumstances ,they may not really be able to make the right decisions.

As I said, I know they are abused in many ways here, and that is horribly wrong.

But with the passport issue, I just don't think having your passport in a little room , without safety and security is the thing to do.

There should be a safe place for those passports that the owner has access to at any time.

for tat u need an account in a bank...

for opening an account u need the company's letter...

for companys letter you need to beg your company for the letter...:(

for opening a deposit account you need to deposit some good amount first !

For good amount you first need to save good amount !

For saving good amount you need to have a good salary...etc etc etc...

so u see LP, its tat complicated just to secure your own damn passport....:)

Brings to mind this story

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article473615.ece

JEDDAH: The fire that ripped through the six-story Alesayi Plaza on Madinah Road last week has shattered the travel plans of many of its employees after the disaster destroyed about 17,000 passports of expatriates working for the company and its branches across the country.

Keeping employee's passport is not an issue .. providing it on time when needed by the employee is.. And most of Qatari companies do not keep their employees' passport for safety.. they keep it to restrict their employees from absconding, traveling or getting employed by competitors..

They could deposit the passport in a bank safe and get some interest. How about that?

It should be kept by the employer only if the employee agrees.

My question exactly Lucky.

I read everyday in the newspaper :Passport lost /stolen...please call bla bla bla number if found.

Now, I am totally against withholding passports,but maybe there should be a choice for the workers to either keep their passport or store it in a safe place.

How do you keep your passport safe if you are living in a 10 x 10 feet room with 7 others with their belongings in the same room :)

It is illegal, end of! How we, as employees keep our passport safe is our own discretion.

I dont see any argument that will justify why employers "must" keep their employees' passport.

For safekeeping purposes? I dont think so!

Flor, on your previous question.

Let me answer with another question: who's passport is it, the employee or the employer's?

why keep reacting on my post while I just agreed with Khanan. Are you afraid of my Padre?

fubar, what if YOU get burned in a fire? Should your employer put YOU in a safe?

I think for visa application and renewals the passport would for sure be given back or if they dont want to hand it over to the concerned staff at any time then they may as well send someone along for all those actions. Anyways, it can be seen both ways...illegal or care for its safe custody, though I would still say let it be with the individual even if it is not safe with him.

What if my ID card gets burned in the fire?

Should my employer also put it in the safe along with my passport, for safekeeping?

flor, is "weighing" laws because HE knows better than the government what is good. That's what I meant when I spoke about this "FUNNY" country. You either have laws and then EVERYBODY has to obey them, or you don't have laws, and then flor and alike can weigh-in what they think is best. Bizarre.

most of transaction here only requires RP card.

What if, what if, what if...

Hypothetical situations are completely irrelevant.

It's against the bloody law.

Next thing we will hear is that employers should withhold salaries, in case there is a fire and your wallet burns up and you lose your money.

but weighing what's best for office procedures, SOMETIMES, better for the big companies to hold the passports. But if the employees will learn to act together, fine, they can always report it! No one is stopping anyone from reporting.

In my previous company, we are less than two hundred employees and everytime we need to renew the RP, we surrender the PP and get a receipt. And yet complications comes (instances of RP expiring or overlooked renewal). We are engineers, just imagine if there are a thousand workers, would you suggest a good way to managed such actions, LP?

khanan is right...what's the use of holding your passport if you still need an exit permit to go out of the country? ...for pros and white collar expats probably it's beneficial to hold your own passport...but how about the common workers/laborers? they will keep it in their own miserable condition at their pitiful camps, losing it is a probability, you need a tons of paper works and deductions from the company to get a replacement...not to count the threats of Mandoop that they will be sent home...it is more inhuman i guess!!

Well, I am lucky, I have my passport. It is safe and sound in the safe in my house.

I would not like to have my passport in some drawer in a room. Now, those workers who actually have their passports, where do they keep them?

what if the accomodation was the one got burned?

So if I need my passport to make a visa application, or for a renewal, or for any other perfectly legitimate purpose, I can't, because my sponsor has it locked up?

I can't believe that there are people who are justifying this.

Passport and exit permits are two separate things.

What if an accident occurs and all these passports get burned down in flames? LoL!

Its a good business strategy ..but its just unethical and inhuman :(

Guyz sad to say our company is also holding our passports, I know its not normal and seamlessly kind a slavery but we have no choice than to follow their own policy.

we don't want things to be more complicated. but they will give it to us once it needed.

Rizks, wake up, you are a human and there are laws. I have noticed that sponsors react to the threat of the law and forget about the passport being handed in. They can't beat the law IF YOU INSIST!

What the hell Lucky Luciano do u actually believe this???

LP, wake up...u r in Qatar !

And you expect if the labor goes to his sponsor and argue with him to give him the receipt and the sponsor sucking a lollipop will tear a receipt and give him ? :(

LL, ha, ha, ha.

LOL Tinker fairy.....

It is to safe guard their Employees' passports. It shows this company's concern about their Employees well being.

Worldwide brands when they get to this parts they also get in the same cycle of events and attitude. Instead of promoting fair practices they are much happy to go along with stone age practices and especially if Asians are in charge at the HR dept.

Well, you CAN do something. You can refuse to hand in your passport with reference to THE LAW. And then, if they force you to hand in your passport, you can ask for a receipt, and with that receipt you can go to court.

If I follow you correctly, flor, then it is up to the people to decide which laws they will follow and which not. That's really a funny way of running a country.

We can protest by never buying products from places like that.....

It DOES matter! It's illegal!

it does not matter, the exit permit is still required when someone wants to go home

And now the government will step in and fine them with QR 5.000 for each passport withheld. Or, the government doesn't believe in its own laws? Ha, ha, ha. What a joke this country is.

saddening but Nothing new..

With exit permit in place..it does not matter who holds the passport..