* ILO official praises laws and regulations adopted by Qatar in recent years

The new legislation on exit permits - Law No 13 of 2018, amending certain provisions of Law No 21 of 2015 regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates - will come into effect on October 28, the joint committee for co-ordination between the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA) has announced.
The MADLSA has also called upon employers and establishments subject to the provisions of Labour Law No 14 of 2004 to identify the employees whose work nature requires prior approval for leaving the country, and submit them through the ministry's website, QNA reported yesterday. The percentage of such workers shall not exceed 5% of the total number of employees.
These announcements were made through a notice posted on the Twitter page of MADLSA.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani had last month issued Law No 13 of 2018, amending certain provisions of Law No 21 of 2015 regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates, which allows expatriate workers covered under the Labour Law to leave the country temporarily or for good without any exit permit within the work contract duration. 
However, employers may submit a prior and reasoned application to the MADLSA with the names of employees that they deem necessary to obtain pre-approval before leaving the country due to the nature of their work. Such workers shall not account for more than 5% of the total number of employees.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) had both welcomed the new legislation allowing expatriate workers covered under the Labour Law to leave the country without an exit permit. 
The new law “marks a significant step in upholding the fundamental rights of migrant workers in Qatar”, the ILO Project Office for Qatar had said in a statement. Sharan Burrow, general secretary of ITUC, also lauded the new legislation and said it marked “a huge step for workers’ rights and the end of the kafala system for migrant workers in Qatar”.
Meanwhile, ILO inspectorate official Joaquim Pintado praised the package of laws and regulations adopted by Qatar in recent years to promote fundamental principles and rights related to work and labourers, QNA said yesterday.
The office said the opening of the ILO office in Doha last April was an important step in taking care of this group.
This came during a meeting held by Qatar Chamber (QC) with a delegation from the ILO, during which they discussed means of enhancing co-operation on common issues and matters related to work and labourers.
QC second vice-chairman Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba affirmed the commitment of private sector companies in Qatar to apply international best practices in the field of work and labourers, and abide by all laws and regulations governing the relationship between the employer and employees.
He pointed to QC's participation in the framing of some draft laws related to the private sector, while organising workshops and seminars on the introduction of these laws and raising awareness about them.

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