Migrant-Rights.org has recorded numerous cases of women migrants struggling to change jobs. And while domestic workers are at a particular disadvantage to navigate the system, the ongoing obscurity on the requirements for job change has made it difficult for all workers...

the demand from the current employers can be anywhere from QR6000 (US$1650) to QR15000 (US$4100), depending on the worker’s nationality, in addition to foregoing all dues... the new employer must only reimburse the old employer if the worker changes jobs during the probation period, which cannot exceed one month’s salary. The minimum wage is currently QR1,000 (US$275) plus accommodation and food (or QR500 and QR300 respectively as allowance)...

Most migrant workers and particularly domestic workers depend on the word-of-mouth network of their compatriots. The most pervasive narrative is that a NOC is still required, and incidents of workers being deported for challenging employers gain more traction than official messaging by the government.

This is not only because there is little or no trust in official mechanisms and channels, but also because of conflicting messages both in the media and by the Ministry itself...

It is not only the individual employer and private sector companies that are quashing job mobility. WISA (Qatar Manpower Solutions Co), a government-owned entity that provides live-out services to households, has also been turning down workers’ requests to change jobs.