“I think we need to seriously think of abolishing the exit permit
system, fixing minimum wages in various sectors, appointing welfare
officers at all companies and also gradually allow the freedom to change
jobs.”
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| Credit: Photo courtesy of Doha Stadium Plus |
- Dr. Ahmed Al Mohannadi, Editor-in-Chief of local sports magazine Doha Stadium Plus, in a new op-ed asserting that Qatar must “do more” to shore up its expat workers’ rights.
Unlike many locals, including those working in Qatar’s human rights organizations, Al Mohannadi did not dispute the veracity of recent media reports about poor working and living conditions among low-income construction workers here.
Instead, he focused on the negative impact human rights abuses are
having on the country’s image, adding that laws in place to protect the
vulnerable don’t appear to be working:
“Of course, in sectors like oil and gas, we can take pride for ensuring
international standards, but in several others, the existing laws proved
ineffective and we haven’t enacted new ones.”
To remedy the situation, he called on Qatar to amend its restrictive kafala
(sponsorship) system, which ties employees to their sponsors, whose
approval must be sought to buy a car, change jobs or even leave the
country for vacation.
He concluded by saying:
“Let’s start doing what’s necessary and then do what’s possible. Then,
I’m sure we can do the impossible and the whole world will applaud us.”
Source: Doha News Online
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