Qatar could be on way to abolishing ‘exit permit system’ very soon: Experts

Qatar has recently taken some important steps towards making the country a great place to work and live in.

If experts are to be believed, another very important step — abolishing of the exit permit system — could happen in as soon as two weeks.

It is understood that Qatar could agree to a deal within a fortnight to abolish the exit permit system, which requires workers to obtain their employers’ permission to leave the country, labour experts said, according to Economic Times.

The possibility of the landmark deal came as the International Labor Organization (ILO) opened an office in Doha, part of an agreement under which the United Nations agency will oversee wholesale labor reform by the 2022 World Cup host, reported ABS-CBN News.

“We’re looking now about the final details of the exit visa, we expect a deal within the next two weeks,” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and a once-vocal critic of Qatar’s labor laws.

Other sources with knowledge of negotiations on the issue confirmed a deal was expected to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA) announced the opening of the ILO’s office in Doha, reported Gulf Times.

The launch of the ILO’s Doha office, the first in the Gulf region, marks a key moment at the start of implementing a three-year technical agreement signed in October 2017 by the Qatari government and ILO.

“Qatar welcomes the opening of this office and there’s no doubt that it’s another step in Qatar’s path to apply a system that simulates the best global systems. Qatar now has a new partner to help it promoting and protecting the labor rights in the country,” ADLSA chief HE Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.

“Qatar leads the region when it comes to the protection of labour rights. The technical expertise and guidance of the ILO will be crucial for Qatar’s transition to a modern labour system that meets the highest standards not only in the GCC but in the world,” he added.

The technical agreement between Qatar and ILO focuses on five areas — improving wages, work conditions and occupational health, safety inspections, implementing a contractual system and procedures, strengthening measures to prevent forced labour and human trafficking, and giving a voice to labourers and energising complaint mechanisms, reported Qatar Tribune.