Law no 21 of 2017 was issued by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Wednesday, that amends provisions of the Law No 21 of 2015 regulating the entry, exit, and residence of expatriates.
The law would be effective on the day following the date of its publication in the official gazette, according to the Qatar News Agency.
As per the amendment, an expatriate worker shall have the right to exit the country for vacation, emergencies, or any other purpose after informing the recruiter, according to the employment contract.
Expatriates would also have the right to leave the country permanently before the expiry of the employment contract after informing the recruiter.
The worker would also have the right to petition the exit permit grievances committee, in case of any objection on the exit, which shall be formed and regulated by a decision of His Excellency the Minister.
Comprising representatives of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and the ministries of Labour and Interior, the Exit Permit Grievances Committee was formed on December 12 and has been set up in accordance with Law No 21 of 2015 that abolished the Kafala system and replaced it with a modernised, contract-based employment system.
