Qatar Employment and Career News
Doha considers strict penalties to tackle issue of absconding workers
Companies in Doha which employ runaway workers or any individuals sheltering them are liable for a fine of up to QR50,000 for violation of labour law.
A proposal suggesting the above is currently being studied by the authorities, who are thinking of effective ways to tackle the problem of absconding workers, who are becoming a threat to national and social security.
Currently, the penalty for providing a job or sheltering an absconding worker is QR9000. Besides, a runaway worker will have to pay QR4,500 as fine to regularize his visa status or leave the country.
A Committee, comprising members from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) and the representative body of the private sector, is currently studying the matter, and it is expected that the relevant articles of the labour law may be amended shortly to increase the amount of penalty.
However, in legal circles, opinions towards ending the menace of absconding workers seem to be different. While few lawyers feel that heavier penalty would do the trick, others feel that frequent inspections conducted at workplaces would be a more effective phenomenon. Yet another suggestion is to set up a task force within the departments responsible for monitoring foreign workforce, so that they can conduct search operations and visit companies and construction sites without prior notice, and check the ID cards of workers.
A Prominent Lawyer, Mohamed Ahmed Al Mohannadi agrees that strict guidelines are a must for companies too, so that they will be discouraged from bringing in foreign workers here and leaving them stranded.
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