With an ambition to support expatriate communities that make up Qatar's diverse population, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA) have together proposed three landmark changes in laws regulating expatriate workers and the labor market.

The three proposals to be implemented soon include:

1. permission for sons of expatriates to work in the private sector without having to change their sponsorships

2. temporary work visas for expatriate workers for up to six months

3. a 20 percent reduction in MoI’s fees for services delivered electronically

Director-General of Passports Major General Mohammad Ahmed Al Ateeq, Assistant Undersecretary of Labor at MADLSA Mohammed Hasan Al Obaidly, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Abdullah Al-Haremi, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs Department participated in the press conference.

Major General Al-Ateeq said that the proposal to allow sons of expatriate residents to work in the private sector without changing their sponsorship was studied and decided to take legislative measures to implement it given its advantages, reported Gulf Times. 

Under the current system, only daughters are allowed to work without changing their family sponsorship.

However, if the new proposal is approved, all members of the family will be allowed to work without changing their sponsorship.

Ministry of Interior andMinistry of Administration announce procedures related to work and residency, which are to allow the children of residents to work in various fields of work in the private sector without requiring them to transfer their residency to those entities. #QNA

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) October 9, 2019

The new proposal is expected to serve as a major boost to the country's labor market.

It will benefit Qatari citizens and residents alike to take advantage of this untapped workforce, underlined the Assistant Undersecretary of Labour Affairs at MADLSA.

"The new proposal will reduce recruitment of surplus workforce, costs of recruitment and housing expenses for the employer. Employers can also take advantage of such workers’ familiarity with the customs and traditions of the Qatari society," Al Obaidly is quoted to have said by Qatar Tribune.

Furthermore, to simplify MoI services and encourage the public to take advantage of electronic services, a proposal to reduce the fee for electronic transactions were studied and a 20 percent reduction for all online transactions were agreed upon.

The Assistant Director of Legal Affairs stated that the proposals that have been studied need amendments in related legislative tools governing these categories.

According to him, work is underway to prepare and amend the legislations and submit it to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to complete its legislative procedures.

In addition to this, it was announced at the press conference that a new temporary work visa system for some professions and jobs has been proposed.

عقدت #وزارة_الداخلية بالتنسيق مع وزارة التنمية الإداريةوالعمل والشؤون الإجتماعية صباح اليوم الأربعاء 9/10/2019 مؤتمراً صحفياً حول تحديث بعض القوانين واللوائح المنظمة للوافدين وسوق العمل وذلك بمسرح الإدارة العامة للدفاع المدنى#الداخلية_قطر pic.twitter.com/lFxII3QprZ

— وزارة الداخلية - قطر (@MOI_Qatar) October 9, 2019

This temporary visa will meet the need of the labor market and create a suitable environment for domestic and foreign investment.

These visas will be granted to private companies, commercial establishments and other licensed entities in Qatar to perform some emergency, temporary or seasonal work that requires the workforce for a specific period, season or occasion.

Temporary work visas valid for one month will be charged QR 300 and for two months QR 500. Visas valid from 3 to 6 months will be charged 200 for each month, according to MoI.

As per the proposal, the visas will be issued after MADLSA's approval while all required procedures will be carried out through Qatar Visa Centres abroad or soon they arrive in the country.

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