Sponsorship System - Debate!
Under the title ‘Sponsorship System - Consequences and Solutions’ Qatar University organized a workshop in which the academics spoke about the conditions of expatriate workers in Qatar and presented suggestions regarding the transfer of sponsorship of the residents of the State. A number of people who were interested in the Labour Law and the law of sponsorship attended the programme. The speakers stressed that the sponsorship system made labourers subject to compulsory work and highlighted the need for the Labour Law to fit with the international standards, whereas the participants pointed out the existence of a gap between the Labour Law and Sponsorship Act. It stated the necessary administrative supervision for the implementation of the laws on the ground is weak and this affects the rights of migrant workers and refers it to the justice of the sponsor, his personal nature. The participants reminded that the Labour Law overlooked some details of the rights of workers, especially regarding the issue of determining the level of wages and housing.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/law/143688-labour-law-and-changes-in-sponso...
She pointed out the need for harmonisation between the Labour Act and the sponsorship system by reducing some of the powers granted to the sponsor, providing the requirements for the adequate housing and medical services for workers, setting up the concepts of human rights, settling the same in the relationship between the employer and workers and reducing the wage levels in the construction sector as well as there is the need to raise the wage levels in view of the price levels in the country. She said that the symposium aims to diagnose and analyze the conditions of expats in Qatar and to diagnose the economic and social effects of immigration on society and the country, discuss the sponsorship system with its pros and cons and make proposals to improve the conditions of workers in order that this category and the community achieve the common interests while ensuring the rights for both sides. She noted that the themes of the workshop include the evaluation of conditions of workers, the evaluation of laws of recruitment, employment and the sponsorship system, the conformity of the sponsorship system with the principles of human rights, the social and economic impacts of migrant workers and point of view of Qatari people and families about the sponsorship system as well as the recommendations about the sponsorship system.
MN - Would be great if you could provide a link to the news.
The proposal to abolish the system was rejected by the govt.
Azilana - Thanks for the link...I'll try to get myself invited :)
smarsin - Brilliant inputs...hope something like this gets implemented sooner or later.
BB True , it benefits the local sponsors in a big way. Its pure slavery from the employee's shoe too. Apart from the freedom concerns, it controls the pay packages too.
It should be scrapped , along with the exit permit!! if the reason is the cost involved in employment, they can have the condition of a minimum serving period of may be a year, so any employee will get an NOC after a years service.
to discuss the Qatar Labour Law but on invitation only.
http://www.qatarlawforum.com/
I'm sure they will not abolish the system of sponsorship. But they can consider some changes, which will help the employees like below;
1. Employee must work at least 2-3 years with the sponsor to avail the sponsorship.
2. The employee may pay back the expense incurred by the sponsor on getting release.
3. They can revise the 2 years re-entry ban to 1 year.
4. Employees should be deserved for the sponshorship change, if the employer breaks the labor law (Non payment of salary, ot, tickets etc)
5. Re-entry ban should be reduced to 6 months, who complete 5/6 years with the same sponsor
LP - Lool if you go a little back in time;it will turn out to be the fault of the Britishers ;)
exit visas and NOC need to get rid of ....pronto!
One word...Control.
I found this here:
"No Objection Certificate or popularly abbreviated as NOC is a type of legal certificate issued by any agency, organization, institute or in certain cases, an individual, that does not object to the covenants of the certificate. This certification is a requirement at most of the government-based departments predominantly from the Indian subcontinent.."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Objection_Certificate)
There you are, it's the Indians' fault!!
I think one of the major drawbacks for this country due to this system is that it prevents people from making careers here and gives them more of a contract based viewpoint. I mean how can one be expected to be committed to an organization and do his/her best if there is a restriction of making your own chioces?
MM - I would second your suggestion. These two measures themselves would assuage the situation to a large extent.
Tinker, exactly...THAT is why things are still the same and will stay that way...that and money.
Well I think the Debate itself is a positive step for the battle for hearts and minds when it comes to changing the stone-age mentality of enslaving other people under the sugar-coated titles such as (sponsorship and sponsors)
This Debate l deserves serious consideration from the Council of Ministers and the Qatari govt.
I think rather than suggesting completely throwing out the sponsorship laws (which will never happen) some reasonable amendments should be made to it, and more importantly the Exit Visa should be gotten rid of.
In the UAE, an NOC must be given to anyone earning more than 10,000 a month if they would like to switch jobs. More importantly there's no such thing as an Exit Visa.
Arien - If you look at this issue from the point of the locals,it makes sense for them too. They are dependant on the expat workforce and would like to see their side of the bargain secured. Infact many of them feel that they are doing a favour to the expats by offering them a job security through the existing system.
to remove the ancient slavery system?
Hope it won't take that long to do the same in the modern times.
Modern Slavery !!!
The point 2 by Dohaguy is whats the reason behind it , Government wouldnt mind scrapping it but will never do...
Thanks dohaguy...I agree with you.
bluebull, check ur inbox for point -2
Dohaguy - I didn't get your point No. 2
nomerci - They might want to change it to appear less backward in the eyes of the world. Qatar is one of the very very few countries in the world with such draconian dark ages laws.
Why would they want to change it?
most of the sponsors of expatriates / companies in Qatar are the fathers and forefathers of the attendees , they will simply appreciate the debate , but will not accept the proposals , coz they r earning a lot through this system and if the sponsorship system goes other way then Government will earn the same money , and the is few points behind not changing the system ,i may be not right but there is some thing,
1- Qatar government don't need more money from sponsorship system as Dubai needed it ,
2- Qatari government don't want their citizens to get together on any point against them , that y locals are continuously being facilitated.
this is just like showing delicious meal to a hungry man, and when he will be allowed to eat? god knows
It's quite heartening to see the influential organizations like QF getting involved in such constuctive debates. I know this happened last year but had missed this report from The Peninsula which is quite striking and the editor has done a good job too. One would expect to see the scissors working on some of the above but the fact that the entire report was published is really heart warming.
I wish the people who's opinion matters in this country take note and do something to make the situation better.