End Of 'kafala' Rules: Migrant rights activists hail Qatar's decision

Hailing the Qatar government's decision to end its controversial "kafala" (sponsorship) system, migrant rights activists said the benefits of the decision for Bangladeshi workers would depend on its implementation in the Gulf state's labour laws.

The decision is being seen as arguably the biggest ever labour reform undertaken by Qatar.

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Ever since Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 football World Cup, its labour laws have been internationally condemned and "kafala" has been at the heart of that criticism.

Qatar, the second highest labour-receiving country from Bangladesh, was under severe criticism for not abolishing the system, which allegedly violates the workers' rights. 

Under "kafala", all foreign workers working in Qatar require a local sponsor, in the form of an individual or company, and need their permission to switch jobs or leave the country. The system was compared to modern-day slavery and left vulnerable workers with little protection and open to abuse, rights activists said.

On Monday, Qatar Labour Minister Issa bin Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi made the announcement of scrapping the "kafala" system and said that a contract-based system to govern the gas-rich Gulf emirate's 2.1 million foreign workers would take its place, according to a report of AFP.

The new system would replace the "kafala" with a modernised, contract-based system that safeguards workers' rights and increases job flexibility, he added.

“It's quite pleasing that Qatar has decided to scrap the system [kafala]. Now, we have to wait to see how the country brings necessary changes in its existing labour laws,” Prof CR Abrar, executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), told The Daily Star yesterday.

Syed Saiful Haque, chairman of Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees (Warbe) Development Foundation working in the field of migration and development, said Qatar promised to bring more reforms in its labour laws after widespread criticism across the globe as many foreign workers, especially Bangladeshis and Nepalese, died while working to construct several stadiums for the host of the 2022 World Cup.

Jabed Ahmed, additional secretary of the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry, said they were very much hopeful that the other Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE would follow Qatar and abolish the slavery system.