Qatar "is ending its labour sponsorship system that forces foreign workers to seek their employer's permission to change jobs or leave the country," according to the BBC.
It said that "a new contract-based law will replace the 'kafala' system, ensuring greater flexibility and protection." Qatar has "imported hundreds of thousands of construction workers" for the 2022 World Cup. Qatar said that a "new law is coming into effect on Tuesday." The government said,
"These new legislative changes, combined with ongoing enforcement and a commitment to systemic reform, not just in Qatar but also in countries of origin, will ensure workers' rights are respected across the entire labour pathway" (BBC, 12/13). In London, Booth & Kelly reported Amnesty Int'l UK warned that workers building 2022 World Cup stadiums in Qatar "will remain at risk of forced labour because of 'meagre reforms' that 'barely scratch the surface' of the Gulf state’s exploitation of migrant labour." Amnesty Deputy Dir for Global Issues James Lynch said that the new law “may get rid of the word ‘sponsorship’ but it leaves the same basic system intact.” He said, "It is good that Qatar has accepted that its laws were fueling abuse but these inadequate changes will continue to leave workers at the mercy of exploitative bosses." Lynch, a former British diplomat in Doha, said that in practice employers "would still be able to stop migrant workers from leaving the country and that, by making it easier for employers to confiscate workers’ passports, the new law could make the situation worse" (GUARDIAN, 12/13). REUTERS' Ed Upright reported a statement from the Qatar government rejected the Amnesty report and said that "it was continuing to review and adapt its laws to 'ensure our approach to reform is fit for purpose.'" The statement said, "We remain committed to the development of a labor system that is fair to both employers and employees alike. These new legislative changes, combined with ongoing enforcement and a commitment to systemic reform, not just in Qatar but also in countries of origin, will ensure workers’ rights are respected across the entire labor pathway." The Int'l Trade Union Confederation said that despite the new laws, "Qatar remains a slave state." ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow: "This is just new labels on old laws. The exit permit system still remains a fact of life. This is just a relabeling of an extremely exploitative system" (REUTERS, 12/13).
