Claim my rights, Please advice !!!
Dear Friends,
I would like to share my bad experience with a sponsor here in Qatar and would appreciate if anyone can help me (or guide) get through it.
I am an Indian Engineer who was hired by a company here in the month of December-2012 as Administration Director visa for Qr.9,000 basic salary with a labour contract saying my housing and transportation will be taken care by the company. On joining, I was asked to work for their branch company (same sponsor/signatory) which they had just started for a pay of Qr.8,000/- (basic, housing allowance inclusive- no written agreement or records) and was said the difference amount as agreed on the labour contract will be paid from the main company account with which my labour contract was signed at the end of 2013 (.....again, no written agreement was made on this- agreed on verbal trust)
Last December-2013 when I asked for my rights, my salary transfer to the bank was stopped for the month of November-2013 and was asked to leave the office for no reasons in mid of December-2013. After 2-3 days, from my few good customers I got to know that they were been informed by email saying I do not work for the company (no termination letter till today).
After again and again calling my sponsor, they only cleared my pay of Qr.8,000/Mnth till end of December-2013 and said the new branch for which i was made to work is going under loss (which is not true; it is still active having my sponsor's brother running the show) and so they will give me NOC to find another sponsor if not they would cancel my visa and send me back home. Having my family here and left with no option I just agreed (nothing in written) to their terms leaving off my rights.
Now its almost getting 2 months and they do not answer my calls or give me my Passport/NOC to find another job. Just last week, they call me and say that I have to pay them Qr.25,000 as visa expenses and then only they will give me my Passport and the NOC letter for changing my sponsor.
Now my question is..., will I be supported by the labour law for claiming my rights and get back my passport and NOC so I can change my sponsorship and start working for my living???
PLEASE ADVICE !!!
THANK YOU ALL !!!
Thanks for your advice blueboy..
Hey, you can't get NOC. Labor Dept does not have authority to push companies to give NOCz. However, Labor dept will force them to pay you your dues. If you're planning to further continue your stay in Qatar, then try to settle amicably as your complain in labor dept will give you your money but tge company wont give you NOC so you would have to leave Qatar and face 2 yrz ban. If you dont want to continue in Qatar, just go ahead wd labor dept. its a simple process. Just ensure u take all docs wd u to explain your case fully to labor officer. Being in HR, I have seen poor employees paying huge price to get NOC from sponsor which is very sad to see but if someone has to work here, then he/she has to pay this price fr NOC. Employers are exploiting this weakness in Qatar laws to the fullest and there is no hope of justice in near future.
Thank you all guys !!!
Its a small company and is not headed by any local Qatari. That's all I can say for now.
whickersworld- Really thank you for your straight reply. I have no issues in going to labour department and filing a case but I just want to know if I can demand for NOC for changing my sponsorship instead getting my all benefits and going on cancel.
On Sunday early morning, go to the Labour department on C ring 3rd floor and file your case. It's very straightforward. Don't listen to anyone else, just go there, it's just after the American hospital. Take any paperwork, RP, copy of your passport and any other relevant documentation such as bank statements, showing your salary.
If you have any questions, just PM me. I've been through this process, so I know how to help you. Lots of conflicting advice on here.
Which company is that?
as Equinox suggested, Try to sort out the things amicably... If possible arrange a mediator.
1. Your job agreement, if it is registered with the labor department, is valid and very effective, giving you the 100% claim right.
2. However to get your claim honored, you have to file a complaint in the labor department or in the civil court.
3. It is totally illegal by the company to hold the passport, which is your personal travel document and you have 100% right on it to collect it from them.
4. Your Embassy's labor officer can give you help, if you speak with them.
5. You can visit the labor department in industrial area street 13, and speak with one of the inspectors there to help you get your passport released immediately.
6. However, the best effort would be to arrange a good negotiator/mediator who could sort out the matter with your company amicably without going into the above options.
Good luck
A tough life for you ....
Wish you good luck .....
99 % QLers won't be the best people to answer on it ......
Fri, 07.02.2014, 06.00 hrs ....