Overseas Filipino workers in Qatar should know these kafala changes for guidance while working in the country.

1. New law would be implemented by December 14, 2016.

2. New law will make employment and stay of expatriates entirely contract-based.

3. Two-year ban on a new work visa will no longer be applicable.

4. No approval from former employee if he is recruited by a new employer.

5. Worker who got a new contract to work in Qatar can come back even on the next day.

6. Exit permit will not be required for travel, it will become invalid with enforcement of new law.

7. To leave country, the employee needs to inform his employer before three days and apply through in Metrash 2 system.

8. All employment contracts of all expatriate workers already in Qatar will be replaced by new contracts by the end of 2016.

9. The date the new employment contract is signed by the expatriate worker will be the date from which the contract will be counted.

10. Employment contract has to be approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

11. Closed contracts shall not exceed a period of five years.

12. Employees with open-ended contracts can move to another employer after spending a minimum of five years with the first employer.

13. Workers with fixed job contracts can change their work and sign new contracts if they wish so at the end of the contract period without NOC but with approval from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

14. An expat can also move to another sponsor with the approval of MOI and MOLSA if the sponsor is dead or the company no longer exists for any reason.

15. A QR50,000 fine and jail terms of up to three years for recruiters who allow their employees to work for other parties without prior official approval.

16. A QR10,000 to QR25,000 fine for keeping passport of expatriate employee.

OFWs will benefit from these adjustments who usually experience abuses from employers while working abroad.

*source here.