Job Discussion Forums

[sacramento]

I was shocked to learn of the block on transferring sponsorship to another employer. I had no idea that this was part of the system where I work. I didn't expect this sort of thing. This ban is an infringement of basic human rights. Why shouldn't people be allowed to change sponsors if they are unhappy with the sponsor or the sponsor is unhappy with them? If people want to leave a job, they should have the freedom to seek employment in another place. Apparently it is your current employer's right to allow you to transfer or to ban you. This seems vengeful. What is the purpose of this? What is also pretty bad is that people who leave can't come back for 2 years. One person I know wanted to come back for a visit but was not allowed to. This kind of practice is not progress, it's feudal. How can a place pretend to be modern but be so backwards in the way employees are treated?

I work in a department where there are a lot of problems with the system, the program, and the people who run the place. There is no work-life balance. People have to much to do: nonstop meetings, lessons, evaluations, reports, lesson preparation, exams, all of which leave you with very little time to refresh yourself physically or emotionally. You have to be very careful all the time because someone is watching, not a fantasy, just a fact of life. Some people are paranoid and the atmosphere is very unhealthy: people scurry around like little roaches trying to get one thing done after another. Many teachers are tired and disillusioned but they need a job, like we all do. Most people are afraid of the management because of what goes on behind closed doors. Shortly after I arrived, a large group of teachers were fired although we were supposedly short of teachers. I couldn't figure that one out. Then some teachers quit because they were so miserable. One teacher did a runner.

My contract ends next year and I don't want to renew it. Maybe they won't want to renew me. Probably not. But what I don't get is why I am going to be blocked if I want to work in another place here. It just doesn't make sense. If my contract comes to an end and neither my employer nor I wish for renewal, then why shouldn't I be free to work in another place? I want to work somewhere where I can trust the people I work with not in a place where I am being watched and am being punished for speaking my mind. If I don't want to stay here, why shouldn't I be free to choose another place to work. Why this ban on freedom of choice? Enlightenment means freedom of choice. We should educate to enlighten not to punish.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Considering your situation, it seems that you have two avenues of redress:

1.) Contact the ACLU...and don't take, "They don't exist here." as an answer...way too many civil libertarians fall for that; and,

2.) Report your employer to the Greater Doha Chamber of Commerce. They are VERY protective of the image of employers and would sanction YOURS immediately!

GOOD LUCK!

NCTBA

P.s.- Keep us updated on your progress!

[veiledsentiments]

If this is true, it is a new Ministry rule. This poster should consult them. I can't see that the ACLU would have any input as to what foreigners a country allows to work or for how long or for what employers. I haven't noticed them assisting too many foreigners here in the US with their work visa extensions.

I do believe that what we have here is a little sock trying again to muddy the water. The familiar prose and rant is meant to suggest that his employer is blocking people whereas that does not seem to be the case at all. (some teachers transferred with no problem last spring... NOCs had been provided to the departing teachers)

There could be another detail at work here too. In some other countries I have heard of teachers who interviewed at another employer - got an offer - then the new employer talked to the current employer and decided that based on the information received, they would pass on the hire. Rather than saying that they heard negative information or changed their mind, they said that the current employer had blocked them from a visa transfer. I suspect that in their mind, it saved both parties from embarrassment.

VS

[millie18]

NOC certificates are required to transfer sponsorship. Even if you don't have any problems with your current employer and either resign (according to the terms of your contract) or complete the contract in good faith - you are automatically banned for 2 years.

As for it being a human rights issue, so is the necessity for most of us to request an exit pass to leave the country whether it be for business, vacation or other reasons. Controlling one's ability to move freely across borders (provided you have done nothing illegal) is in direct contravention of human rights, yet most insitutions/organizations here in Qatar use it as a method of controlling their employees. This to me is even more egregious, unethical and illegal (by most international standards) than the NOC certificate.

A multiple exit visa is available, but a large number of employers will not allow this - even when employees offer to pay the extra expense for one.

[veiledsentiments]

I agree with that one. Government employers in Kuwait required exit visas... while in Oman, private employers held passports and you had to request them to leave the country. Both aggravating.

Are you saying that an NOC is required to transfer? Or that even if you have an NOC, you need to stay out for two years? I assume the first as I know of teachers who did immediately transfer to other Qatar employers.

VS

[wilberforce]

Are you working in the Gulag? It sounds like it. We have the same problems, overwork, too many lessons, etc. . We've just had another runner.

Regarding the transfership issue: some people were able to get a NOC to transfer but some weren't. It depends on whether you are in with the boss or out. Arbitrary.
But there is definitely some sort of ban on transferring from one government body to another. At the end of the day, it's your boss who decides. And yes, some bosses are vengeful. They don't want to allow people to transfer to certain places even though they may have poached people from those places. And yes, there is a two year return ban. It you leave the country, you can't come back even for a visit for two years unless you get a NOC from your former employer. And some refuse to give it.


For those of you who don�t live in Qatar, here, like in all other Gulf Arabian countries, your residency visa is not issued by the Country � it is rather �sponsored� by your company. In reality, this means that you can�t resign and get a better job without your company giving you a �release�. Your company can even ban you from working in Qatar for a long period.

[wilberforce]

http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=413&pID=1073

[battleshipb_b]

Despicable. It's an act of sheer spite to refuse to give an NOC to a teacher who has completed his contract or has not been renewed. If a person has been allowed to return to work in the same institution three times, then this person should not refuse anyone the opportunity to find employment in another place. Live and let live.

[wilberforce]

Too right. Even Herr Malachy at his worst never refused anyone the NOC, even if he didn't like you, he was impartial about this. Anyone who asked got the NOC. That's the only way to be a real professional, if you don't like your employee, just be fair and give them what they ask for - give them the NOC!

[wilberforce]

Sponsorship law gets nod



Source ::: THE PENINSULA

By MOBIN PANDIT and MOHAMMED SALEM

DOHA: Qatar yesterday issued a new sponsorship law that retains salient features of the previous legislation, which was enforced some 45 years ago.

The exit permit and sponsorship rules remain almost unchanged, but sponsors have been barred from keeping the passports or travel documents of their workers. Expatriate women in independent employment here can now sponsor their husbands and children and detailed regulations in this regard will be issued through a ministerial decree soon.

The new law (No. 4 of 2009) regulating the entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of foreigners was ratified by the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and will be enforced with immediate effect.

Qatari women married to foreigners will be allowed to sponsor their husbands and children.

A foreign worker dismissed from his job or quitting on his own can come back to Qatar for employment with another company only after two years from the date of his departure. He can, however, be hired by another company provided his existing employer gives him a release and the authorities approve it.

A worker whose services have been terminated by a company on serious charges (as per Article 61 of the Labour Law) can return to Qatar to take a job with another firm only after four years.

Workers or their dependents holding residence permits, who wish to stay outside the country for more than six months, can do so provided they seek the approval of the authorities beforehand or after the expiry of the six-month period by paying a fee, if their residence permit is valid for 60 days.

Children born to expatriates outside Qatar can be brought here until they attain the age of two years and application for their residence permit should be submitted within 60 days of their arrival. Wives and children of foreign workers holding a valid residence permit and visitors staying here for up to 30 days do not require an exit permit to travel out of the country.

Workers whose sponsors refuse to issue them an exit permit, or if the sponsors are out of the country or have died, can seek a clearance certificate from a competent court certifying that they do not have a court ruling or a case against them and they would be allowed to travel out of the country without an exit permit.

The sponsor is legally bound, under the new law to pay for the last rites of a worker who dies here. The sponsor has to bear expenses if the latter�s legal heirs wish to transport the body to his home country.

Foreign investors and those who buy property here will be issued residence visas along with their dependents provided they have good character and pass the health check-ups.

These visas will be issued for a period of five years which would be renewable once or several times for a similar period. It is not a prerequisite that their dependents work here. Foreign investors and property owners who are deported for some reason are to be given at least 90 days� time to settle their commitments here so they can leave the country for good. The law provides for jail terms and fines for violating its provisions

[wilberforce]

Apparently the No Objection requirement from your former sponsor to return to Qatar after you've left the country has been scrapped. No confirmation on this so need to check.

[millie18]

I think an important paragraph has been omitted from that article. Indeed, the NOC is still required or an automatic 2 year ban will be placed on the passport, even if you want to re-enter as a tourist

[wilberforce]