The Qatari government takes all reports of abuse and exploitation in the labor market seriously.

In cooperation with international partners, Qatar has introduced a number of major reforms to improve labor standards and protect the rights of all workers. This includes a new national minimum wage, removal of redundancy permit requirements, removal of barriers to job-changing workers, stricter supervision of recruitment, better accommodation and improved health and safety standards.

All companies are required to comply with the laws. Qatar has zero tolerance for companies that violate these, and issues harsh penalties for such, including prison sentences. An awareness campaign has been launched to provide employees with information on how to lodge complaints against the employer, and new mechanisms have been introduced to provide better access to legislation.

Workers are strongly encouraged to submit complaints to the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (ADLSA) through the many available channels if they believe a law has been broken. When reported to the authorities, most complaints are resolved in an efficient and timely manner.

The Ministry of ADLSA has addressed the tourism sector directly, and created and distributed a comprehensive employment guide in collaboration with the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) to raise awareness of the new laws and ensure their effective implementation.

Qatar is committed to making further progress to ensure that labor reforms are effectively enforced. Significant progress has been made, but it is also the responsibility of companies to adapt their practices in line with the new legal requirements.

With new laws and stricter enforcement measures in place, the government is cracking down hard on the misuse of labor, including those in the tourism sector. Changing the behavior of all companies will take time, but Qatar wins the battle against those who think they can circumvent the rules.