In the United States, H1B visas for employment can be transferred from
one employer to another, but the sponsorship system does not have this
facility. If the sponsorship is to be transferred from one employer to another,
it requires the first employer’s legal testimony in which he allows his
employee to change jobs.

Obviously, for this reason, even if an employee is unhappy with the
working conditions and salary and has a better job offer, he cannot change his
job.

It is straightforward that an employer never pays attention to
improving working conditions or salaries because he knows that his employees
cannot do any other job without his permission. For this reason, even if an
employee wants to leave his job, he must first return to his home country,
which is not possible for most people.

 

Qatar became the first country
to change the system

Last September, Qatar became the first country to pass legislation to
change the system. These set of rules are now being enforced.

Under the rules, foreign workers working in Qatar will no longer need
their employer’s testimony to change jobs.

This will eliminate a major problem for workers in the Gulf, and
employers will focus on improving their employees’ salaries and working
conditions.

 

Will housing be provided to
employees?

In addition to the new sponsorship laws, Qatar, like the United Arab
Emirates, has set a minimum monthly salary of 27 275 for every employee
employed since August 30, 2020.

In addition, an employer will have to provide accommodation to its
employees or pay the employee 21 213 per month for the accommodation.

 

Unlike sponsorship laws, this legislation is not a very good example.
The amount set for the minimum wage is much less than the average amount needed
to live there.

The fact is that since the blockade of Qatar, the prices of foodstuffs
and other items have skyrocketed and these basic necessities have become out of
reach of the workers. In many places in the UAE, the minimum income is even
lower.

 

Difficult or easy for laborers?

Qatar should congratulate on this move. Human rights activists have
repeatedly pointed out that the kafala system is a form of slavery. It has been
observed that tying a worker to the same employer obliges the worker to abide
by strict conditions.

The laborer either endures these difficult conditions (including
non-payment of wages) or is forced to return to his home country. These workers
have taken so many loans to go abroad that there is no question of returning to
their homeland. This abusive attitude has been going on for hundreds of years
with hundreds of workers.

 

When will this system be
implemented?

It is being speculated that the reason for these rules in Qatar is the
FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Qatar next year. The next day, Amnesty
International wrote an open letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino
expressing concern over the Qatari Shura consul’s tough stance on the sponsorship
system and employer change. At the same time, it has been mentioned that hardly
any employment laws have been implemented in Qatar.

 

The letter said FIFA should also consider the ongoing abuse of workers
here before selecting Qatar for the World Cup. Even after the selection of
Qatar, it remains FIFA’s responsibility to ensure that workers are not
subjected to further abuse.

 

Amnesty International’s letter clarifies Qatar’s impetus for changes to
the sponsorship system. The move was prompted by pressure from FIFA, which
itself has been under pressure from human rights groups such as Amnesty
International. However, the implementation of these new rules will not cause
Qatar as much economic damage as the cancellation of the FIFA World Cup or the
boycott by fans in the face of labor abuse.

 

Whatever the reasons for these laws, they certainly raise hopes that
Qatar’s rivals in the region could enact similar legislation. If human rights
records are taken into account before selecting host countries for an international
sporting event, the UAE and other countries in the region will be forced to
provide better facilities and wages to workers on their soil. ۔

 

Foreign fans comment on labor

Foreign fans who come to watch the FIFA World Cup will come here to
have a good time. What could ruin their good times more than the realization
that the workers here are being treated like animals while their employers are
making a lot of money?

 

Qatari nationals may be used to ignoring this behavior, but foreign
FIFA fans will not ignore it at all. This threat is a precursor to change in
Qatar. We can only hope that the Qatari government will not re-impose the old
oppressive system after the FIFA World Cup.