Reza Mahmud
Bangladeshis working in Qatar would soon be allowed to switch jobs or interchange job places on same work permit. A new proposed law in this end would soon be passed by Qatar government to enable thousands of foreigners, especially from south and Southeast Asian countries, to enjoy hassle free working environment. The new law is expected to be functional from January next, official sources said.
The move to pass the new law was recently announced to remove all barriers and unnecessary difficulties of foreign workers. “According to the new law foreign workers will be allowed to change workplaces or companies as per their conveniences. But it is not permitted now,” said an official of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment.
The law would also set minimum wages and remove all discrimination in wages offered by private companies in Qatar. In absence of such law, the foreign workers are not allowed to change their job or companies. To do so, they had to leave the country and re obtain permits and visa for jobs.
The existing law in other Middle Eastern countries are also similar in most as they bar foreign workers on job to change their companies.
Qatar is the first country of the region which is taking such a move considering conveniences of the expatriate workers. The proposed new law will also shun difficulties of leaving the country for the expatriates as the foreign workers would be free to decide when to leave the country. There are more than four lakh Bangladeshi workers engaged in various jobs in Qatar now.
