Qatar

Decision No. 39 establishes a three-month probation period for domestic workers.

Law No. 10 allows 100 permanent residency permits to be issued per year, granting permanent residency to foreign residents for the first time, under certain conditions, which will provide the same social security benefits as Qatari citizens.

Law No. 11 regulates political asylum by allowing all individuals except for those who committed war crimes, human rights violations or non-political crimes to apply for political asylum, granting applicants three months of temporary residency until a final decision on their claim is reached, and then granting asylum to individuals and their family members along with the right to apply for travel documents, right to work, and the right to access government health care, education and housing.

Articles 4 and 7 of Law No. (11) of 2018 on Regulating Political Asylum stipulate that the Minister of Interior establish a Committee for Political Asylee Affairs with members from the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Justice Ministries, the State Security Bureau and the National Human Rights Committee, and defines its modus operandi. The Committee will be responsible for presenting recommendations on political asylum applications to the Minister of Interior who will issue, within three months from the date of receiving the recommendations, a decision approving or rejecting a political asylum application. To date, the Committee has not been established.

Law No. 13 of 2018 amends Article 7 of Law No. 21 of 2015 regarding organizing the entry, exit and residence of expatriates.

Law No. 17 establishes a workers’ support and insurance fund to support, ensure and provide care for workers, by guaranteeing their rights and a healthy and safe working environment, paying workers’ due wages following a decision by the labour dispute committees, providing humanitarian support for workers in emergency situations, and standardizing mandatory recreation for workers.

Law No. 1 of 2017 amends Article 7 of Law No. 21 of 2015 which regulates the entrance, exit and residence of expatriates.

Law No. 13 amends the Labour Law promulgated by law No. 14 of 2004 and the Civil and Commercial Proceedings Law promulgated by law No. 13 of 1990.

Law No. 15 sets provisions around foreign domestic workers regarding recruitment, contracts, medical examination and residence permits.

Ministerial Order No. 15 establishes the formation and procedures of a National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking.